SOOKE
CELEBRATING THE BARD
Editorial
Robbie Burns night in Shirley.
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NEWS MIRROR HOCKEY DAY
Sleivert games raise $2,200.
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Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Black Press C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
M E D I A
Agreement #40110541
Setting the record straight on fire insurance rate increases in Sooke Britt Santowski Sooke News Mirror
Pirjo Raits photo
The government dock is full of all types of fishing boats.
The media has recently exploded with rumours of increased expenses for residents here in Sooke. “Shortage of firefighters could double cost of Sooke home insurance” screams one Island headliner. “Fire insurance rates could be going up over shortage of volunteer firefighters,” shouts a national. Let’s address the rumoured free-fall drop in Sooke’s residential grade. First, the impact of this grade adjustment will not affect all dwellings in Sooke, as some recent news coverage suggests. “The perception is that it applies to all of Sooke, and it’s not that. It only applies to eight kilometres out, and that starts at about the 5200 block of Sooke Road,” clarifies Milne. That’s from Cooper’s Cove to about the 17 Mile House. “Everyone else is within the eight kilometre radius of the main fire hall.” Further, in a news release issued by the District of Sooke on January 9, 2014, the District will be “sending letters to all property owners that may be affected by this change in fire rating status.” If you haven’t heard from them, it probably doesn’t affect you. If you think you may have been overlooked, give them a call at (250) 6421634. Second, the grade shift is ten-
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tative and will not influence any insurance providers for a while. The grade is a set using a Dwelling Protection Grade (DPG) formula, which comes from the Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS, fireunderwriters.ca). There are five grades in the DPG, one being the highest (staffed, protected) and five being the lowest (unprotected). According to Sooke’s fire chief Steve Sorensen, Sooke falls under Grade 3 (volunteer, protected — 3A — and volunteer, semi-protected — 3B). The primary difference between and A and B is whether or not a dwelling is within 300 metres of a recognized fire hydrant. A bird’s eye view of Sooke’s fire protection services includes the main fire hall on Otter Point, (Fire Station 1), the satellite station on Goodridge, (Fire Station 2), and a muster station (Sunriver). A fire station covers a maximum recognized road distance perimeter of 8km, and a satellite station extends that coverage. A muster station enhances response time. The matter at hand — that which can affect the DPG for residences outside of the eight kilometre travel range of Fire Station 1— is the number of fire fighters available at Fire Station 2, the satellite station. According to correspondence from Michael King, a Public Fire Protection Specialist from FUS, “If the roster at Fire Station 2 cannot be maintained above the
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minimum requirements for fire insurance grading recognition, Fire Station 2 will no longer have a recognized response level and a Dwelling Protection Grade 5 (unprotected) would apply.” The main minimum requirement stipulated by FUS is the number of available fire fighters. “An absolute minimum roster strength of 10 members is required.” As explained in the previously mentioned news release, this grade change will not happen right away: “Fire Underwriters Survey has given the District of Sooke a one year grace period to come up with a long term solution to the staffing problem.” Keep in mind that not all insurers use the FUS grading system. As Fire Chief Steve Sorensen explains it, once the base insurance rate is set, “most insurance companies will give you a discount based on the level of protection you had. … That varies by insurance company,” he continued. Eventually, if the number of qualified volunteers does not hit the minimum of 10 within a year and depending on your insurance provider, the value and condition of your home, and where you are geographically located in Sooke, your insurance cost might rise. Somewhat. Third, the increase will not be as drastic as suggested. The increase that Sorensen
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Real Trends Magazine 2013