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For Immediate Release 
March 1, 2024

Fire District Receives New Rating After Inspection
State Officials Award New District Rating
RALEIGH - State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor announced today that the following Fire
Districts completed their routine inspection and received the listed rating, on
listed effective dates. The inspection, conducted by officials with the State
Fire Marshal (OSFM), is required on a regular basis as part of the North Carolina
Response Rating System (NCRRS). Among other things, the routine inspections look
for proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment,
communications capabilities and availability of a water source.
District Type Rating Effective
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Hiwassee Dam Rural 4/9E 06/01/2024
The NCRRS rating system ranges from one (highest) to 10 (not recognized as a
certified fire department by the state), with most rural departments falling into
the 9S category. While lower ratings do not necessarily indicate poor service, a
higher rating does suggest that a department is overall better equipped to respond
to fires in its district. Higher ratings can also significantly lower homeowners
insurance rates in that fire district.
State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor extends his congratulations to Chadwick W McNabb
for the commendable performance of the Hiwassee Dam Volunteer Fire Department,
Inc. and the dedicated efforts of its team. "The residents of (fire district)
Fire District can take comfort in knowing this highly capable team of firefighters
from the Hiwassee Dam Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. is safeguarding them and
their belongings in the event of an emergency," Brian stated. OSFM inspections are
designed to assess various aspects of fire departments, including equipment,
training, and emergency response capabilities, contributing to the overall
effectiveness of fire services in North Carolina. State law mandates inspections
by OSFM officials for departments serving districts with 100,000 people or fewer.