11 NCAC 05A .0903         RATING OF FIRE DISTRICTS

(a)  To receive a PPC rating, a fire department shall submit a written request to OSFM containing the following information:

(1)           The name of the fire district;

(2)           The name of the entity that operates the fire district (e.g., city, town, county, non-profit corporation);

(3)           The name of the person in charge of the entity that operates the fire district;

(4)           The name and title of the Fire Chief or his or her designee;

(5)           The physical address of the location of every fire station utilized by the fire department;

(6)           The mailing address of the fire department;

(7)           The Federal (FEIN) Tax ID number of the fire department;

(8)           Copies of any contracts with a local government body to provide fire protection; and

(9)           A Geographic Information System ("GIS") computer-generated map of the fire district, and documentation of the approval of the map by the local governing body if applicable.

(b)  A fire department may contract with more than one unit of government to provide fire protection. In addition, a local unit of government may contract with more than one fire department to provide fire protection.

(c)  9S Re-Inspections. Fire departments shall be re-inspected by OSFM, at least every 10 years and shall be notified by OSFM of such 9S re-inspection in writing at least 30 days in advance. In addition, upon receipt of information alleging noncompliance with this Section that is reviewed and verified by OSFM, OSFM shall perform unannounced re-inspections of fire departments.

(d)  New Station Inspection. A fire department may request a certification inspection for any new station. Before OSFM will conduct the inspection, the fire department must provide the following:

(1)           Proof of Certificate of Occupancy; and

(2)           If the fire department is adding to their rated insurance district with an additional station or making any changes to the insurance district lines, new maps and approvals in accordance with Subparagraph (a)(9) of this Rule.

(e)  Merging of fire departments. When two or more fire departments merge into one fire department, OSFM shall conduct a 9S inspection. Before the inspection will be conducted, the fire departments must provide the requirements of Paragraph (a) of this Rule.

(f)  Unless otherwise approved pursuant to Paragraph (g) of this Rule, a fire district may not extend more than five road miles from a responding fire station.

(g)  A rural fire district may extend its boundaries to more than five road miles but within six road miles from a responding fire department if, in addition to the requirements of Paragraph (a) of this Rule, the fire department enters a written automatic aid contract with another jurisdiction that requires the responding party to respond with at least one piece of fire apparatus capable of carrying at least 1,000 gallons of water.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 58-2-40; 58-36-10; 58-40-25; 58-83-1;

Eff. January 1, 2018.