Jasper Highlands, the residential mountain top community in Kimball, Tn., has improved its Public Protection Classification rating to the best in Marion County, Class 4, over the course of only eight months. The new rating is a drastic improvement from the previous rating of Class 10 which the newly-formed volunteer fire department inherited due to nearby departments electing to no longer cover the mountain.
The volunteer Jasper Highlands Fire Department went through an evaluation with the Insurance Services Office in order to review and update the fire district’s applicable classification rating. This improvement could translate into lower insurance rates of up to 70% for residents of Jasper Highlands. The JHFD is proud that they have also implemented the first team of EMS responders in the county through their dedicated team of volunteers.
“This team has put in over 1,000 hours of training led by James Wessel and Lowell Hardin, who together have more than 50 years of experience in fire service,” said John Thornton, owner and developer of Jasper Highlands and CEO of Thunder Enterprises. “We strive to offer our community the best of the best in every respect, and we are proud to have an extremely strong team of volunteers led by Chief John Roth to protect our residents, and also provide a substantial amount of savings for home owners through insurance reductions because of our excellent ISO rating of 4/4x.”
Last year, the Foster Falls Volunteer Fire Department voted not to cover Jasper Highlands; however, Thornton contracted with James Wessel, founder and President of Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus in Huntsville, who began scouting for dedicated team members and purchasing top-of-the-line trucks and equipment for the development. The newly-appointed Public Protection Classification rating is a reflection of the dedication to service, and commitment to the Jasper Highlands community. According to reports from December 2015, only 80 fire departments out of 921 in the state of Tennessee have a better rating on a 10-1 scale than Jasper Highlands. The majority of fire departments scored between Class 5 and Class 9 in 2015.
“From start up to a Class 4 is unheard of and is a direct testament to Thornton, the development and the volunteers who selflessly put in hours upon hours of their own time to train and serve,” said James F. Wessel, president of Jasper Highlands Fire Department. “The benefit of Jasper Highlands’ new rating goes directly back to the community. Achieving a Class 4 rating confirms that together we have made this a great fire department.”
When reviewing, the ISO takes into account water supply, fire prevention tactics, equipment, training and personnel, and the organization judges against a national standard. For more information about the JHFD and Jasper Highlands, visit TNLand.com.