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RSSMaroa home owners insurance shouldn't be affected by firefighters resigning
DECATUR - In the wake of the resignations of nine Maroa firefighters, residents are voicing concerns about whether the short staffing could affect insurance for area home and business owners.
At the Monday meeting of the Maroa Countryside Fire Protection District, the board of trustees heard concerns from several citizens, including George Campbell, that their insurance rates could go up or that their coverage could be canceled.
The firefighters, including the assistant fire chief, left the department Sept. 9 after the board did not respond to their demands that Larry Peasley be removed as the department's chief. The resignations left the volunteer department without a daytime shift.
The board members assured citizens that the situation probably would not result in any increase in insurance costs.
Susie Conway wanted to contact her insurance agent to find out for sure. Conway said her agent indicated there likely would be no effect on her rate, but any further resignations could affect it.
Conway said she is worried about the daytime coverage the department is currently able to provide. Board President Tom Rogers said he did not have an exact tally of daytime shift personnel at the Monday meeting.
"I don't know how much coverage there's going to be," Conway said. "I feel that there is a risk."
Decatur-based State Farm Insurance Cos. agents Bob and Carol Bischoff said the situation likely will not affect coverage, and State Farm generally focuses more on what county or zip code a property is in rather than what its fire department looks like.
"The fact that they've all quit is not going to affect the policyholders there," Carol Bischoff said.
Bob Bischoff said that if the situation is resolved quickly, it is unlikely there will be a change in how insurance companies view the level of risk.
"In the short term, I think nothing's going to happen, but I think long term, a major problem would be if it takes longer (for the department) to respond (to incidents)," Bob Bischoff said.
State Farm spokeswoman Missy Lundberg said more goes into determining fire insurance rates than just a community's fire department.
"There are a lot of different factors that go into us figuring out our rates, and if this is going to be a component of it, it will only be a fraction of it," Lundberg said.
klowe@herald-review.com|421-7985
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