|
Fire fighters to much
more than fight fires!
 allon
is located 60 miles south and east of Reno, Nevada on US 95. The
department protects a population in the city of 8,000 and in Churchill
County of 16,000 spread out over 250 of the 5,000 square miles of barren
desert.
In August 1997 the department was awarded a Insurance Services Offices
(ISO) Class 1 rating within 1000 feet of all hydrants and a Class 3 rural
rating (shuttles, drafting and relays) within 5 miles of all four county
fire stations. Both ratings are the lowest ever given a volunteer fire
department. The rural rating is the lowest ever given any fire department
paid or volunteer. Class 8's apply from 5 to 8 miles from a station. Class
9's eight to 10 miles and Class 10's beyond 10 miles.
The department has the 25th ISO Class 1 ever awarded out of
approximately 88,000 ratings. Fallon was awarded the first ISO Class 3 out
of only two ever given to departments without a water system.
ISO RATINGS DO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!
Residential Rates
Yearly premium and percent Discount based upon a $100,000 wood frame
home that is 10 years old. This is not intended to be a quote of actual
taxes.
| Class |
All
State |
Independent |
Hawkeye |
Metropolitan |
| 10 |
$803 |
$652 |
$827 |
$766 |
| 9 |
$625 |
$652 |
$827 |
$766 |
| 8 |
$354 |
$520 |
$467 |
$766 |
| 7 |
$354 |
$520 |
$467 |
$766 |
| 6 |
$354 |
$401 |
$467 |
$766 |
| 5 |
$354 |
$401 |
$467 |
$387 |
| 4 |
$354 |
$401 |
$334 |
$370 |
| 3 |
$293 |
$401 |
$334 |
$370 |
| 2 |
$293 |
$401 |
$334 |
$370 |
| 1 |
$293 |
$401 |
$334 |
$370 |
| Totals |
-63.6% |
-38.5% |
-60% |
-49.8% |
| SAVINGS |
$510 |
$251 |
$493 |
$379 |
The department runs two matching compressed air foam pumper tankers and
two pumper tanker aerials, three conventional engines, three 3500 gallon
tankers, a dozen tenders, a small tower ladder, a medium duty rescue, Haz
Mat trailer, a dive van, and a rescue boat. The apparatus are staffed by
volunteer fire fighters. The department runs 400 fire and extrication
calls a year. The department does not run EMS. Average response time for
all calls is less than 6 minutes.
The most common question asked is, "how did you get rigs like
that?" It all started one afternoon when the old 1969 Pioneer
LaFrance's motor ceased on a pump test. The officer's and a local resident
informed the mayor that 50% of the city's fleet was out of service.
Permission was granted to go to bid in 3 days for a new fleet. The same
process was followed with the county manager. The new rigs were designed
that night on a yellow pad by a local resident. Bids were sent out two
days later. Two weeks later 31 bids were opened. The department didn't buy
the most expensive or the least expensive. They bought the rigs closest to
the specifications. |
