Dover fire ratings improve

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

Dover residents could see friendlier insurance rates after the city received improved ratings from fire protection experts.

The city of Dover and Selkirk Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services announced this week that the bedroom community was bumped from a Class 5 rating to a Class 4 rating. The improved rating is the result of an analysis by the Idaho Surveying and Rating Bureau, which conducts inspections of communities and provides ratings that insurance companies use to determine risk and set insurance rates.

“The city of Dover and surrounding areas could see, upon renewal of their fire insurance policies, some reduction in their premiums,” said Selkirk Fire Chief Ron Stocking.

According to Selkirk Fire, the rating improvement largely stems from a decision by Westside Fire Protection District last year to join a joint powers agreement with Selkirk Fire Rescue and EMS. The agreement improves the Dover area’s access to fire protection resources and personnel in the event of an emergency.

“We are very excited about the services that Selkirk Fire is providing to the community,” Stocking said. “We hope that more communities in Bonner County will want to take advantage of the potential that can be provided by combining personnel and equipment.”