The Wilson’s Mills Fire Department has received an improved fire rating.
NC Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey announced the department recently completed their routine inspection and received a new and improved rating.
Wilson’s Mills Fire Chief Bentley Powell said the Fire District Rating was lowered from 6 to 3. That will help lower insurance premiums especially for commercial businesses.
Chief Powell said the improved rating had been something the department had been working on for several years.
“The late Chief Ricky Barbour was instrumental in guiding us through the 2006 inspection and led the department faithfully until his untimely death in 2011,” Powell told WTSB News. “Lessons learned from Chief Barbour have helped us through this inspection.”
The Wilson’s Mills Fire Department started in 1972 with one fire truck housed in a shop behind Uzzle Oil Company. In 1975, the department moved into their Main Station on Fire Department Road. They opened Station 2 on Cleveland Road in 2003. The department has a total of 5 engines, one rescue truck and two support vehicles.
They cover approximately 48 square miles, one of the largest districts in Johnston County.
The department has 4 paid and 50 volunteer firefighters.
The lower fire rating takes effect on August 1, 2017. Chief Powell encourages property owners – particularly business owners – to check with their insurance companies after August 1st to make sure they are aware of the lower fire rating. “Any citizen that feels like they need assistance, contact us. We’ll help anyway we can,” Chief Powell added.
