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Blount County residents and businesses who subscribe to Blount County Fire Department's services will see a reduction in their fire insurance premiums due to an improvement in fire protection.

The drop in premiums is a result of the Blount County Fire Department's improvement in its score with the Insurance Services Office (ISO), Blount County Fire Chief Doug McClanahan said.

ISO provides information about communities' fire-protection services through the Public Protection Classification (PPC) program and they analyze data using a Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS).

ISO then assigns a classification from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents exemplary public protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's program doesn't meet ISO's minimum criteria.

McClanahan said that effective Sept. 1, Louisville's classification will improve from a Class 8/9 rating to a Class 6. McClanahan said there is currently a Class 8 rating in areas within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant and a Class 9 in areas not within 1,000 feet of a hydrant.

Rockford, which was previously a Class 8 area, will drop to a Class 5 area, due to fire protection improvements.

McClanahan said the rest of the county within five miles of a fire station has improved from a Class 9 to a Class 7. Areas that are not within five miles of a fire station are a Class 10.

There are only a few areas in Blount County that have a Class 10 ISO rating, including the Top Of the World community. McClanahan said the community is currently trying to to build a station in that area, and the department will provide firefighters and apparatus for the station.

Water supply improved

Several factors play a part in ISO's rating, including water supply through hydrants and shuttle systems, staffing levels, training, performance, fire response times, property saves, truck maintenance, pump operations, hose tests, pre-plans of commercial public assembly buildings and multi-unit housing and fire dispatch.

"The most critical (factor) is water supply," McClanahan said.

He said the water supply has improved greatly throughout the county because the utility departments have continued to add hydrants over time. The number of tankers owned by the department is also important because they haul water to areas that do not have hydrants.

"We have over 30,000 gallons of water on wheels," he said.

Some areas of the county still lack hydrants due to the lack of 6-inch water mains, which are required for hydrants.

"They hydrants have helped," McClanahan said. "The ladder truck has been a helpful thing and the new tankers and engines we brought on have helped."

McClanahan said the new equipment and upgrades to their vehicle fleet were possible through "subscriptions, grants and donations." To see a reduction in fire insurance premiums, residents must have a subscription with the Blount County Fire Department. The residential subscription rate is set at $110, and the Blount County Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to hold the subscription rate at that price for as long as possible.

Without the subscription, McClanahan said it can get costly in the event of a residential fire. The fire department charges $2,200 for the first two hours spent on a fire scene, and $1,100 for each additional hour. Fees can also occur when firefighters assist people with hazardous material spills or leaks, vehicle extrication, search rescues, trench rescues and collapse rescues.

To sign up for a subscription for services provided by the Blount County Fire Department, please call 983-2133.

Both Alcoa and Maryville have Class 3 ISO ratings, which is mostly due to the adequate water supply throughout the cities. Friendsville has Class 5/9 rating, with a Class 5 rating in areas within 1,000 feet of a hydrant and a Class 9 in areas not located near hydrants.

Townsend has a Class 9 rating, Seymour is a Class 7/9 and Greenback is a Class 6/9, McClanahan said.

McClanahan said he is proud of the fire protection improvements that led to the improvement in the county's ISO ratings.

"We have 300 square miles to cover, "McClanahan said. "And with the big area that we have to cover -- going to a Class 7 speaks well for our department."

He said he commends the firefighters who have worked hard for three years to improve the ISO rating.

"And we'll continue to strive to lower the ratings," McClanahan said.