Highway 58 VFD Gets Improved Fire Rating From State

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) – Every homeowner probably knows that the closer you live to a fire station, the cheaper your home insurance.
That’s why thousands of residents in Hamilton county can look for a break from here on out.
The highway 58 Fire Department now has a new fire rating.

The Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department now has an improved rating for fire protection services.
It went from a 7, handed down in 1989, to a lower Public Protection Classification.
That rating is from the Insurance Services Office. One, is a good rating—a 10 is no service at all.

STAN HARDY, DEPUTY CHIEF, HIGHWAY 58 VFD "Then we received a rating of a 4…and which will benefit a lot of homeowners and businesses."

The new classification came after a lot of changes.

STAN HARDY, DEPUTY CHIEF, HIGHWAY 58 VFD. "We had three stations at that time, and we had some old equipment and used equipment and so we took upon ourselves to do something better and to work hard."

There are now 5 Highway 58 Fire Department stations and a training center.
They serve 110 square miles including Ooltewah, Harrison, Birchwood, Georgetown and Snowhill.
The equipment to serve that many communities is expensive.

STAN HARDY "We rely on the subscribers and donations and some grants that we obtain over the years."

This new rating will provide Highway 58 VFD with a valuable tool when planning, budgeting and justifying fire protection improvements.
C.R. Harris is Chief of the department—he’s a retired trucking company owner.

CHIEF C.R. HARRIS "I guess it gets in your blood. I enjoy doing something like this. I’ve been in this fire department 38 years, I’ve been the chief for going on 23 years."

There are 65-70 volunteers at the 5 stations. They didn’t just walk in and put on turn-out gear. They have to be trained for months and certified.

BLAKE KAISER, VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER "We’re getting ready to take a haz-mat certification test tonight through the state, and then we’ve got to finish up fire one until May."

And, don’t forget, they are volunteers—they don’t get paid a penny for this job.

Working as a fire fighter is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
The Highway 58 Department lost one of its own–Shane Daughetee– while fighting a house fire in 2007.