NEW: Central Coventry Fire District Receives "Poorest" Rating from Insurer
GoLocalProv News Team
NEW: Central Coventry Fire District Receives "Poorest" Rating from Insurer
Fred Gralinski, chairman of the board of the Central Coventry Fire District, shared the board of directors' reaction, explanation for ISO's rating and how they hope to remedy the situation.
Statement From Central Coventry Fire District
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"On June 10, 2015, the Insurance Service Organization (ISO), which rates fire departments around the country, notified the Central Coventry Fire District that the district had received ISO’s poorest rating – a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.
This rating was a surprise and shock to myself and the other members of the CCFD Board of Directors. We immediately contacted ISO for an explanation of the poor rating.
ISO’s response was very simple and very much at odds with statements made by the Central Coventry Fire District union president David Gorman, who ascribed the low rating to pumper trucks and ladder trucks being removed from service.
In ISO’s email response to our query, they indicated that Central Coventry’s lowest possible rating was solely due to the fact that the district did not meet ISO’s minimum training requirements, based on a survey conducted on 1/28/2014.
In response, the Central Coventry Fire District has proposed a plan to remediate the training issues that ISO has identified. ISO has indicated to us that those changes should improve the district’s rating.
These remedial activities must be in place prior to June 23, 2016, a deadline that the district will meet. Residents should be assured that no changes to the district’s ISO ratings and no insurance premium penalties for Coventry taxpayers and businesses due to low ISO ratings will occur prior to June 23, 2016.
The District continues to employ a union Battalion Chief for Training and adequate training funds are included in the budget. Our board will work with the Receiver and encourage and help him to do everything possible to ensure that Central Coventry Fire District’s operations meet best practice expectations for fire departments and the ISO rating is returned to the previous level.
This is very much a work in progress, and we appreciate the patience and support of our tax payers while we clean things up."
Butane Hash Fires in the U.S.
November 2011
Medford, Oregon
The heater in the house turned on causing the butane to explode. Seven people, including two kids, escaped from the explosion.
November 2013
Bellevue, Washington
The fire was started by three men who were using butane to extract hash oil from marijuana. The fire cost $1,500,000 in damages and former Mayor Nan Campbell died in the fire.
The three men were charged in July of 2014
Photo courtesy of ssalomans/ flickr
May 2014
Manitou Springs, Colorado
Hash oil was linked to dozens of explosions but no one was hurt. A couple was taken into custody on suspicion of first degree arson but were later released on bond.
May 2014
Puyallup, Washington
An illegal hash oil operation went up in flames featuring more than 300 cans of butane. Nobody was injured in the explosion but two people were detained.
October 2014
Missoula, Montana
An explosion took place at a University of Montana apartment due to a man attempting to extract hash oil from marijuana. The man, Patrick Wayne Austin, was held on $50,000 bail.
Photo courtesy of brandonwu/flickr
October 2014
Walnut Creek, California
The top floor of a four unit apartment building was completely blown off and two people were critically injured and another was unaccounted for. The fire consisted of one large explosion and then dozens of other smaller explosions following it.
October 2014
Jackson, Michigan
A 20 year old boy attempted to extract hash oil from marijuana by "open blasting" in his upstairs bedroom in his parents house when it caught fire. The 20 year old had a medical marijuana card.
October 2014
Visalia, California
After extinguishing the fire, the firefighters determined the residents had been cooking hash oil from marijuana when vapors ignited and caused an explosion.
The home had $80,000 in damages and another $20,000 damages to the contents of the home.
November 2014
San Bernardino County, California
A man was killed and two others were injured after a home exploded and significant amounts of marijuana and butane were found in the debris.
Photo courtesy of paulbanday/ flickr
