Crime & Safety

South Shore Fire Department Improves Rating; Could Save Homeowners Money

In the SSFD's 2010 Annual Report, Chief William Bouma says that the department's non-hydrant rating has improved and that could save homeowners money on their property insurance.

Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant residents who live in non-hydrant areas could see a reduction in their homeowners insurance because of an improvement with the South Shore Fire Department's rating.

According to the 2010 Annual Report presented to the Mount Pleasant Village Board on July 25, the SSFD's non-hydrant area rating improved from a 9/10 to a 6/10 with the Insurance Services Organization (ISO).

"This could mean 25 to 30 percent savings for homeowners if their agency uses the ISO ratings," Bouma said during his presentation.

Find out what's happening in Mount Pleasant-Sturtevantwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

ISO ratings are based on a host of factors, including mutual aid agreements and how many tankers can be on-scene and/or can be refilled or replaced in the case of a significant event.

"A working fire, meaning one that already has a good start, needs a strong initial response," said Battalion Chief Jon Keiser. "The lack of water supplies in non-hydrant areas can impact our ability to prevent a significant loss."

Find out what's happening in Mount Pleasant-Sturtevantwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Non-hydrant areas are pretty much just as they sound; areas in the villages where municipal water has not yet been extended. Keiser said those areas are primarily in the western parts of both villages; along Highway KR west of Highway 31, parts of Wood and Braun Roads, and some select subdivisions on the south and northwest sides of Mount Pleasant that are still on well water.

Homeowners who live in these areas should check with their insurance agency about using ISO ratings for the potential savings.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Mount Pleasant-Sturtevant