Warren County Fire Services undergoes restructuring

The Warren County Fire Services has recently undergone changes to its organizational structure. Previously, the services were comprised of six stations classified as individual nonprofits; however, those nonprofits have been combined under an umbrella organization also called the Warren County Fire Services.

That organization includes an oversight board of five members serving staggered terms. The oversight board will be responsible for dispersing funds, equipment and personnel from a county-wide perspective. One station, Northeast, combined with Culkin, so that there are now five total stations.

Warren County Board of Supervisors President and District 5 Supervisor Kelle Barfield said the change is aimed at keeping fire ratings as high as possible, as they can impact homeowner insurance rates, among other community services.

“A key aspect of managing fire protection services in Warren County is to keep our rating of those services as favorable as possible with the rating agencies that determine the quality of fire protection,” Barfield said. “A part of that has to do with manpower, equipment, equipment maintenance, and other factors.”

The rating agency recommended to the board to go through with the changes after the county had trouble meeting manpower requirements at some stations.

According to Barfield, the change, which went into effect July 1, will help minimize fire insurance costs for residents.

“From a rating standpoint, you now have the combined human resources, not subdivided. So ultimately, what this achieves is keeping the rating as high as possible for all the stations in Warren County, which in turn keeps fire insurance much more competitive and keeps it lower for the residents,” she said.

The Warren County Fire Services are supported annually by a $127,000 Warren County budget line item. Previously this money was dispersed individually among the fire stations. Now, that money will be given to the new single entity.

Barfield also said residents are unlikely to notice a change in the services being provided.

“Most importantly, they will not see a change at all,” she said. “It’s the same dedicated people providing the same service from the same stations that it always was.”