State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor announced that the Central Alexander/Taylorsville and Sugar Loaf volunteer fire departments completed their routine inspections and maintained their ratings.
Central Alexander VFD maintained a 5/9E rating for its rural area and a 5 rating for its municipal area. Sugar Loaf VFD maintained a 5/9E rating.
The inspections, conducted by officials with the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), are required regularly as part of the North Carolina Response Rating System (NCRRS). The routine inspections look for proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities, availability of a water source, and more.
The NCRRS rating system ranges from one (highest) to 10 (not recognized as a certified fire department by the state), with most rural departments falling into the 9S category. While lower ratings do not necessarily indicate poor service, a higher rating does suggest that a department is overall better equipped to respond to fires in its district. Higher ratings can also significantly lower homeowners’ insurance rates in that fire district.
Taylor congratulated Central Alexander/Taylorsville Fire Chief Matt Jordan and Sugar Loaf Fire Chief Joshua Chapman for the commendable performances of these fire departments and the dedicated efforts of their teams.
“The residents of these fire districts can take comfort in knowing these highly capable teams of firefighters are safeguarding them and their belongings in the event of an emergency,” said Taylor.
Alexander County Fire Marshal Mark Earle also expressed his appreciation and congratulations.
“We appreciate the dedication and hard work of the Central Alexander/Taylorsville and Sugar Loaf volunteer fire departments in maintaining our fire district rating,” said Mark Earle, Alexander County Fire Marshal. “Their commitment to training, community service, and rapid response times ensures the safety and well-being of our residents. We are thankful for their faithful service.”
OSFM inspections are designed to assess various aspects of fire departments, including equipment, training, and emergency response capabilities, contributing to the overall effectiveness of fire services in North Carolina. State law mandates inspections by OSFM officials for departments serving districts with 100,000 people or fewer.