Resident complains about lack of fire service

Published 1:14 pm Wednesday, June 15, 2016

THOMASVILLE, Ga. — A Thomas County resident is saying his fire insurance premiums have more than doubled because of no fire protection.

Hunter Drew addressed Thomas County commissioners Tuesday morning with the complaint. 

Drew, who lives at 4205 Ozell Road, told commissioners he addressed the board three or four years ago.

“I’m back today. It’s not only me. I can fill up this room if you need me to,” Drew said.

Hunter suggested 1,800 to 2,000 residences are without fire protection, adding that insurance premiums on his house have increased from $1,200 to more than $2,500 annually.

“ … I’d like to see something done,” Drew told commissioners.

Commissioner Elaine Mays told Drew he does have fire protection, adding that she realizes fire insurance premiums are expensive.

The county needs more stations, but to finance the stations would require taking money from reserves or raising taxes, Mays said.

Drew, retired Aucilla Plantation manger, said he offered to donate land for a station when he was employed at the plantation. He said he offered land twice, but never heard anything.

Pointing out that county government receives money annually on insurance premiums, Drew said a fire station would cost about $20,000.

Drew said, “I’ve done everything. Y’all have done nothing.”

Some 838 Thomas County residences have an ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating of 10, the lowest, according to Drew.

Commission Chairman Ken Hickey told Drew ISO ratings have changed. A structure 5.1-plus miles from a fire station is a 10, the chairman said.

“We have pockets like that all over the county now,” Hickey said.

Commissioner Wiley Grady asked if a fire station staffed by volunteers would help. It would if within five road miles of a recognized station, responded Chris Jones, Thomas County fire chief.

A truck is available for a volunteer station, the chief added.

The chairman assured Drew the situation with his fire protection and that of others would be addressed.

After the commission meeting, Drew said his 2,400-square-foot brick house was built 10 years ago.

In addition to fire insurance premiums increasing $1,000 annually, some residents in his area cannot get cost-replacement insurance on their homes, he said.

Drew said that if his house were destroyed by fire, he would not be able to recoup tens of thousands of dollars in damages to the structure and contents.

Global Positioning System (GPS) today determines how far a structure is from a fire station, Drew pointed out.

During the meeting, the fire chief said the land Drew previously offered to give the county is wet and would require work to make it suitable for a fire station.

Drew, who retired from the plantation position about two years ago, said the land is on the plantation.

His son now holds his father’s former Aucilla Plantation position. Drew does not know the status today of the previously offered land.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820.