A decreased rating for Vashon’s firefighting capabilities has meant increased insurance costs for some property owners and additional understanding of the importance of local volunteer firefighters.
Effective last June, the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) downgraded the fire protection rating of some areas on Vashon and Maury Islands from 5 to 9, with lower scores being better scores. Emergency medical response is not factored into the rating, which affects insurance premiums.
The bureau, a property insurance rating organization, had not evaluated Vashon since 2014. The cause of the downgrade is the number of district volunteers and where they live, according to Vashon Island Fire & Rescue (VIFR) Chief Charlie Krimmert, who spoke about the lowered rating last summer and again recently. WSRB considers a fire station staffed if six firefighters live within 5 road miles of the station, he said.