Local News

Insurance ratings improve for Twisp and Okanogan County Fire District 6

Apr 15, 2014

Okanogan County Fire District 6 was successful in its efforts to improve fire insurance ratings for the Town of Twisp and the district. The Washington Surveying & Rating Bureau (WSRB) sent a letter this week saying that both the fire district and Twisp have improved by one protection class.

Twisp went from Protection Class 7 to Protection Class 6. The fire district improved one class, as well, from 8 to 7. The Town of Winthrop remained in Protection Class 6.

Okanogan County Fire District 6 provides the same fire protection and fire suppression service to communities in the Methow Valley. The rating difference between the towns and the fire district is because water is more accessible in urban areas.

WSRB evaluates all Washington communities for their fire protection and suppression capabilities. Using a schedule approved by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, WSRB assigns each community a Protection Class of 1 through 10, where 1 indicates exemplary fire protection capabilities, and 10 indicates the capabilities, if any, are insufficient for insurance credit. There are about 700 cities and fire districts in the state, with about half grading Class 7 or better.

The new classifications take effect on August 1.This improvement could translate into lower insurance premiums for homeowners. Individuals are encouraged to contact their insurance carrier or agent for more details.

This was a collaborative effort supported by fire commissioners for Okanogan County Fire District 6 and the towns to help local residents and support the work of local firefighters. The fire district started the intensive process last June, and the work concluded in February of this year.