More than 5,600 rural properties in the Township of Langley will receive enhanced fire protection service and significant insurance savings, thanks to the now complete Superior Tanker Shuttle Service Accreditation.
In May, Langley Township’s Fire Department took on the third and final phase of testing for the Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) Accreditation in southeast Langley. Through a demanding documentation and training process, crews proved they can quickly move and maintain an effective water supply to fires in remote rural areas not serviced by hydrants or the municipal water network.
FUS Accreditation was received for the Township’s southwest area last year, and this spring, northeast Langley was accredited.
“This was a massive undertaking that involved the entire Fire Department. Now that the process is complete, residents in most rural areas will benefit and see substantial insurance savings,” said Assistant Fire Chief Pat Walker.
“Because fire is a major concern, it is an advantage to live near a fire hydrant or fire station,” Walker said. “In urban areas, proximity is not usually a problem and this is reflected in your insurance rates. But in more remote or rural areas, the distance may be greater, which influences the cost of your insurance.”
Thanks to the Accreditation, residential property owners may see their insurance premiums drop by up to 50%, a savings of hundreds – even thousands - of dollars.
“Residents can also be secure in the knowledge that Township fire crews are capable of shuttling tankers and supplying the water needed to fight fires in more remote locations,” Walker said.
To be accredited by the FUS, a fire department must prove it can provide an alternative water supply and delivery system that can establish and maintain a flow of 900 litres per minute within five minutes of a fire engine arriving on scene. The water supply must be sustained for two hours.
FUS does not set property insurance rates, but is responsible for publishing the Canadian Fire Insurance Grading Index that is used by insurers across Canada to base insurance rates on.
Residents who want to know if they are in an accredited area and qualify for reduced insurance must contact their insurance provider. Walker will be meeting with local insurance brokers to educate them about what the accreditation means to their industry.
The enhanced fire service covers as much of the rural Township as possible, although some properties won’t meet the FUS Accreditation criteria of being within eight kilometres of a fire hall and five kilometres of a fire hydrant.