OKTIBBEHA COUNTY – About 90 households in south Oktibbeha County could see decreased insurance rates starting Oct. 1 with the expansion of the fire rating district within Fire District 5.

Supervisors approved expanding the fire rating district by 6.6 square miles, near the Oktibbeha-Noxubee County line, during its regular meeting Sept. 8 in the Chancery Courthouse. The change was made because the newly constructed Moor High Fire Station at 2231 Moor High Road allows for more coverage in the area.

All Oktibbeha County residents are within one of nine fire response districts served by Oktibbeha County Volunteer Fire Department. However, about 10% of the county is outside a “rated district,” meaning they are farther than five road miles from a fire station, Fire Services Coordinator Patrick Warner wrote in an email to The Dispatch.

A map, which shows the newly expanded rating district, was provided to the board of supervisors for its regular meeting Sept. 8 in the Chancery Court house. The nearly 7-mile addition includes an estimated 90 households who will have access to more home insurance options now they are within a rated district. Courtesy image

Those outside of a rating district are given a rating of 10, the lowest on the scale where 1 is the best. This rating results in higher home insurance rates.
Ratings for the 90 households coming into the fire rating district will go from a 10 rating to a 7. The drop in rate should cause homeowners insurance rates to fall, but it won’t be automatic. Homeowners will need to request an adjustment for their insurance companies, Jessica Brackin, an account executive at Insurance Associates of Starkville, told The Dispatch.

While the rates should drop, there is no standard estimate and the decrease will vary by person and property, Brackin said.

“The fire rating or protection class, that is a factor, but it is not the only factor,” Brackin said. “So that’s why … it’s really hard to say that you’d see this much of a discount or a decrease in premiums. … Different companies have different underwriting guidelines.”

Some companies may not drop the rate. But homeowners will now have more options while shopping for a better rate since many providers do not offer insurance to those in a district with a Class 10 rating, Brackin said.

“It’s a huge difference for those customers for sure because they are now opened up to markets that they haven’t been, especially a more standard market,” she said.

But in her 10 years of experience, Brackin has rarely seen anyone inquire for a policy change just because of decreased fire ratings.

“I don’t know that people keep up with (rating changes) really enough to know,” Brackin said. “Now some people will get a letter, and they will follow up on it. … I’ve seen that maybe six times.”

Residents can inquire about policy changes and begin collecting insurance quotes ahead of the change going into effect, Brackin said.

Warner said the fire department has yet to communicate the change to residents, but he hopes residents will see other positive changes in addition to lower insurance rates.

“We hope this change encourages more local volunteer participation,” Warner wrote in the email. “A new, closer station often motivates residents to join and respond to emergency calls. Having a station nearby also allows responders to get trucks enroute much faster, significantly reducing response times and improving emergency outcomes.”

Warner hopes to continue decreasing the amount of the county located outside of a rating district, aiming to transition all but 1% to 3% into a rating district.

The fire department acquired property at 7280 Sturgis Maben Road, halfway between Sturgis and Maben, in an area that is currently uncovered. Warner plans to build a station there once he secures funding, either through grant funding or a legislative appropriation.