Carefree fire insurance (ISO) rating lowered
By Curtis Riggs | August 12, 2009
Lower rates anticipated for some homeowners
CAREFREE – The town council recently received good news about fire protection.
Town officials were notified the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) had lowered Carefree's ISO rating from a 6 to a 3, which should lead to lower rates for many homeowners. The change generally affects homes within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant and within five miles of the Carefree Fire Station.
Homes in Carefree, which are not within 1,000 feet of a hydrant or five miles of the fire station, will continue to have an ISO rating of 9.
"Three is a darn good rating," Rural Metro Fire Chief John Kraetz said. "Scottsdale and Paradise Valley only have threes."
Carefree has had an aggressive fire hydrant installation program for years. Whenever there is money in the budget a portion of it goes toward new fire hydrants. Many of them have been in the Carefree Highlands.
Kraetz also announced that Carefree has entered into an Arizona Mutual Aid Compact, which would activate resources from other communities during emergencies.
"It's a win-win," he said. "It allows you to draw on a lot of resources in an emergency because there are only so many resources you can draw on in a community."