The City of Revelstoke has received an upgraded fire insurance grade, according to Fire Chief Steven DeRousie, indicating improved protection for homeowners and the potential for reduced insurance costs.
DeRousie said the recent assessment by the Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS), a national firm specializing in fire risk analysis, raised Revelstoke’s dwelling protection grade (DPG) rating from 3A to 2. This means homes within 300 meters of a fire hydrant and within eight kilometers by road of a fire station qualify for the improved DPG within city boundaries.
“A better DPG means that the fire department’s response capabilities, resources, and preparedness have improved, reducing the risk of damage to homes in case of a fire,” stated a city release. “Overall, this improvement indicates both better safety and potential cost savings for residents.”
DeRousie told Black Press Media residents should “be shopping their insurance to two or three different providers” to capitalize on competitive rates due to the reassessment. He explained that a community that meets the FUS performance standards for its fire department often saves more on insurance than the cost of the fire department’s operation.
He suggested residents shouldn’t pay more for their insurance than the difference between what an insured and uninsured homeowner pays. An uninsured resident might pay approximately $5,000 to $6,000 annually for “unprotected” coverage, compared to potentially lower premiums for “fully-protected” coverage.
“Your premiums may become half of that for a semi-protected rate,” or even more for a fully-protected property, he estimated, emphasizing the cost-benefit of having a functional fire department.
As fire chief, DeRousie is responsible for annually updating Revelstoke Fire Rescue Services’ information through the FUS online portal to ensure residents are as safe as possible while also getting the best value from their insurance policies. He added that residents should understand that investing in their fire department can yield a net return.
“The reason we exist is basically to help people be compliant with the insurance industry,” he said jokingly. DeRousie added as two things that are certain in life are death and taxes, now the third certainty is insurance.
Looking ahead, DeRousie shared the insurance industry will soon introduce a system that recognizes wildfire risk in addition to homeowners who are “taking FireSmart principles under their wing,” which should yield them better results when looking for home insurance.
Those interested in a FireSmart home assessment can contact Revelstoke Fire Rescue Services’ Lauren Marfleet at [email protected]. To learn more about Revelstoke’s DPG rating, visit fireunderwriters.ca/grading/dwelling-protection-grade.html.
