ROCKINGHAM — The East Rockingham Fire Department was recently awarded a new rating by the Office of the Chief Fire Marshal.
Following an inspection, the department was awarded a rating of 4/9E.
Chief Fire Marshal Brian Taylor wrote a letter on Sept. 22, congratulating Chief Dennis Smith Jr. on the new rating.
“I commend you and your department for your dedication and commitment to making your community a safer place to live,” Taylor said in the letter.
According to a press release, inspections are required on a regular basis as part of the North Carolina Response Rating System, checking the department for proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities and availability of a water source.
"The residents of East Rockingham fire district(s) can take comfort in knowing this highly capable team of firefighters from the East Rockingham Fire Department, Inc. is safeguarding them and their belongings in the event of an emergency," Taylor said in the release.
The rating system ranges from a high of 1 to a low rating of 10, with many rural stations having a lower rating, according to the OCFM.
“While lower ratings do not necessarily indicate poor service, a higher rating does suggest that a department is overall better equipped to respond to fires in its district,” reads the press release. "Higher ratings can also significantly lower homeowners insurance rates in that fire district.”
ERFD, which has its main station on Airport Road, opened a new substation on Home Place Road in late 2023.
