Fire Protection in Columbia County
Homeowner insurance premiums are directly related to the distance between your house and the nearest fire station and/or hydrant. The farther your home is from hydrants and stations, the higher your insurance premium. Insurance companies, though, don’t always get these distances right. For this reason, it is important to double check your distances and discuss with your agent.
- Highest protected areas: when your home is less than 1,000 feet to the nearest fire hydrant AND less than 5 miles to the nearest fire station, you should receive the lowest fire insurance rate available.
- Rural fire protection: when your home is farther than 1,000 feet to the nearest fire hydrant BUT less than 5 miles to the nearest fire station, your fire insurance rate will be higher. Insurance is available in rural areas but premiums are higher.
- Unprotected areas: when your home is farther than 1,000 feet to the nearest hydrant AND farther than 5 miles to the nearest fire station, the fire insurance rate is very high and there are few companies willing to insure in these areas. Unprotected does not mean the fire department will not come. It simply means your home is farther than 5 miles to the nearest station.
You may use the Find My Fire Station Tool to estimate distance between your home and the nearest fire station and hydrant.
