Lee Trawick
Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
The Live Oak Fire Department (LOFD) gives its insurance service office (ISO) number to the residents of Suwannee County. What does this mean for the residents? The answer is simple, it means potentially saving hundreds of dollars a year on homeowner's insurance. What is an ISO rating and how will it benefit the residents of Suwannee County? An ISO score is provided to the fire departments and insurance companies; the rating is a reflection of a community's preparedness for a fire. While the rating mainly focuses on the local fire department and water supply, there are many factors; 50 percent is measured by the overall health of a fire department, its overall training, maintenance and crucial equipment; 40 percent is evaluated by its water supply, such as the fire hydrants, the sustained water pressure for a duration of time and the a department's ability for fire suppression. The remaining 10 percent is based on various factors, such as the infrastructure of an emergency response team, including an effective call center and personnel, public education and participation throughout the community in fire safety education and fire prevention.
These numbers can look deceiving, causing some insurance companies to not honor an ISO rating, although there are many insurance companies that do. An ISO rating is almost a badge of honor for a fire department. The lower the rating, the less risk of a total loss of a structure, whereas a higher rating says there is a more likely chance that if a structure catches fire, a homeowner is expected to suffer a total loss. An ISO rating is tough to reduce, considering the overall factors. The LOFD is rated as one of the top-tier fire departments throughout the United States. With a rating of three, residents and businesses have a lower insurance rating due to the extremely low risk of total loss.
The Suwannee County Fire/Rescue (SCFR) does not have a water system throughout the entirety of the county, therefore their ability to sustain water for a duration is more challenging than a department that can hook up to a water supply. Additionally, while SCFR has strategically placed fire stations throughout the county, its ability to capitalize on a positive ISO rating has been geographically challenging. The county does not have a constant water supply except for in Dowling Park and O'Brien. Because of this, the county has an ISO rating of a nine. Unfortunately, residents with insurance that honors ISO ratings will pay a relatively more considerable sum of money each year for homeowner's insurance.
Jeff Tippens Insurance of Live Oak compared rates for the exact same dwelling inside and outside the new five mile boundaries, showing the difference between homeowner benefits from the protection of a fire department with a low ISO rating versus one with a high ISO rating. Upon comparing the two scenarios, the difference in homeowner's insurance was found to be $289.68. Therefore, if you are a resident within five road miles of the city limits, you may want to check with your homeowner's insurance to see if you qualify.
For years, residents of Live Oak have benefited from the protection of the LOFD, allowing them to save hundreds on their homeowner's insurance. In contrast, the residents within five miles of the city limits have had to pay hundreds more simply because of their location. Some of these residents are closer to the LOFD than any SCFR station, yet SCFR covers them.
That all changed on April 19, 2022, when LOFD Chief Chad Croft and SCFR Chief Eddie Hand formed an automatic aid agreement. This agreement targets the residents within the City of Live Oak and those located five road miles of the city limits. This means that, when a call is received, the primary department is dispatched, and a secondary dispatch is sent to the supporting department. The location of the call will determine the primary department; if it is within the city limits, the LOFD is the primary, whereas if the call is within the county, the SCFR is the primary regardless of who arrives first.
In the past, if the call were made in the county, only SCFR would respond unless it was determined they needed assistance from the LOFD and vice-versa. This would take time and far more loss to the structure. However, with the new agreement, both departments will respond automatically regardless of jurisdiction within five road miles of the city limits. The goal is to better benefit the residents of Suwannee County, both structurally and financially.
Fire Chief Croft is entering his 20th year as Chief of the LOFD; he has been pushing for this agreement for 20 years now, understanding it is not about territory but the residents. Over the years, Chief Croft has been forced to listen to calls just outside the city limits until the county could arrive, due to the politics and geographical location of the call. Then, over the last two and half years since SCFR Chief Hand became the chief, the project began gaining traction as in the years past; Chief Croft has had no luck with previous administrations.
The benefit of the agreement is a better and faster response time for the residents. It also will allow business opportunities to expand outside the city limits with inexpensive affordable insurance, as the residents within the automatic aid agreement range will now be in the area of an ISO rating of four, which is considerably lower than their previous rating.