Columbus, MS, improves Fire Department Rating

Reduced insurance rates for home and business owners could be the result of a new rating for the Columbus, MS Fire Department, which was recently moved to a rating of “four,” an improvement over the rating of “five” it has held for the last thirty years.

Columbus joins several other Mississippi cities which are also ranked at 4 on the 10-point scale, where 10 represents the lowest rating. Those other cities include Biloxi, Greenwood, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Meridian and Tupelo.

Columbus mayor Robert Smith told the local press, “This is the first time Columbus has ranked above a five. This is outstanding for our city. Only two cities have been ranked threes — Jackson and Southaven. There are no ones or twos.”

Smith also said that savings on homeowners insurance could be around 10%, while business owners could save as much as 20% on their insurance coverage.

Fire Chief Ken Moore also spoke to the press, explaining that factors considered when rating a city’s fire department include water systems, water pressure, safety control, and service to the community. He also spoke about the recently-approved purchase of a new fire truck, saying, “This new truck will help us maintain our rating.”