The City of Asheville Fire Department received a significant designation Wednesday, Dec. 7 that could affect homeowners.
The fire department, which was already designated a Class 2 department, now joins an elite group made of fewer than 0.05% (one-half of one percent) of all fire departments in the United States.
Once every five years, every aspect of the department's 12 stations and 249 firefighters is measured and given a grade for effectiveness and response time. The upgrade in the department's rating also affects homeowners and businesses, as insurance premiums are adjusted relative to how the local department scores in the rating system.
The North Carolina State Fire Marshal came to Asheville Wednesday morning to make the announcement that Buncombe County Fire Department is now a Class 1 department, putting them in the cream of the crop as it pertains to fire departments nationwide.
"It's my honor to announce that you have achieved the pinnacle of success," said Mike Causey, N.C. State Fire Marshal. "You are going to the very top -- from a Class 2 to a Class 1 -- so I just want you to congratulate yourself on that."
"Our firefighters are the ones that are doing the work. They are reducing the risk in our community, they are responding to these emergencies 24 hours a day," said Asheville Fire Chief Scott Burnette. "Our firefighters are the ones that made this happen."