Sealed bids are being taken on a 1990 Ford F-150 pickup, donated to Martin's Crossroads VFD by Glenn Creech (l). The bids will be opened at the VFD's regular meeting set for Tuesday, October 31. A good time to bid on the truck is Saturday, September 30, during the barbecue plate sale which will be held at the main fire station on Double Branches Road. Pictured with Creech is Mike Reese, VFD president. For more information about the fund-raising project, contact Jim Allen at 706-359-7558. The Martin's Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department has everything in place to possibly lower ISO (Insurance Service Office) ratings in both sections of Fire District 4, the most heavily populated fire district in Lincoln County.

What has prompted the new ISO re-evaluation is the county's state-ofthe art E-911 communications center which went on-line September 12.

"The new dispatch center is the key to reducing our ISO ratings which will in turn, lower insurance premiums for homeowners in District 4," stated Mike Reese, president of Martin's Crossroads VFD.

Fire protection is considered to be better in areas with lower ISO ratings. To lower its ISO rating, a fire department has to accumulate points in three main areas:

(1) The Fire Department - In connection with this category, the ISO reviews the distribution of the fire companies throughout the area and checks to see if the fire department tests its pumps regularly and inventories each engine company's nozzles, hoses, breathing apparatus, and other equipment.

(2) The Water Supply - This part of the inspection focuses on whether the community has sufficient water supply for fire suppression beyond daily maximum consumption.

(3) Fire alarms - This deals with how well the fire department receives and dispatches fire alarms.

The higher the overall point score, the lower the ISO rating.

"The last time we were evaluated by the ISO was in November of 2004," said Reese. "By ISO standards, a department can accumulate a maximum of 10 points for dispatching services. We received one-half of a point in 2004."

In spite of the low score for dispatching services, the ISO rating for the southwest section of District 4 (the area on the south side of Chamberlain's Ferry Road) dropped from a 9 to a 7. "With three more points we could have dropped to a six," said the fire department president.

He went on to note that a lot of things have happened since November of 2004:

Leah VFD in Columbia County gave the department a 1973 certified Class A pumper.

The department received a $104,298 grant from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for equipment, training, and so forth.

Lincoln County acquired a new emergency dispatching system.

"These three factors, especially the new dispatching system, could possibly bring our ISO rating down from a 7 to a 6, maybe even a 5," said Reese.

As for the northeast section of the fire district (the area north of Chamberlain's Ferry Road), it kept its previous ISO rating of 9, following the 2004 inspection.

"We were hindered from getting a lower ISO rating due to the fact that we did not have an adequate supply of water in place at the time," remarked Reese. "Now that the installation of the new water lines on Highway 220 and Highway 378 has been completed, we have fire hydrants in that area.

"The installation of water lines and fire hydrants, along with the new E- 911 dispatch center, could bring our ISO rating down to a 7 or maybe even a six in that area," he continued.

Reese, who has been a member of Martin's Crossroads VFD for 28 years, remembers a time when the entire district had an ISO rating of 9, so he is understandably excited about what the future holds for the fire department. "I'm thrilled that our ISO ratings may be lowered - it will mean better insurance premiums for the homeowners in our district. It will also indicate that we have a better level of fire protection."

Concerning future plans, the VFD president pointed out that with the construction of two new subdivisions in the area and the building boom at the industrial park, Martin's Crossroads' next goal is to establish a fulltime, paid fire service in District 4. "It all depends on how the ISO inspection goes," he added.

Founded in 1971, Martin's Crossroads VFD operates out of two unmanned stations:

(1) The first fire house was originally the voting booth for Precinct 4. In fact, the roof of the structure had to be raised three feet to accommodate the fire truck. This was all accomplished with volunteer labor.

Then, in 1990, the new station, which would become Station #1, was built on Double Branches Road using volunteer labor.

(2) Station #2 was built in 1997 by volunteers. This was a collaborative effort between Martin's Crossroads and members of the Midway VFD.

The department's annual operating budget is around $40,000.