NEWS

The presentation to DFD Fire Chief Ryan Monteith at the Tuesday, Dec. 9, Board Meeting. (News of Davidson photo)

DAVIDSON, NC – At the December 9, 2025 Town of Davidson Board of Commissioners meeting, Davie Summey, Division Chief of Inspection/Rating, and State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor with the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) presented an update to the recent Insurance Service Office (ISO) inspection for the Davidson Fire Department. The Davidson Fire Department completed a re-rating inspection in April 2025. [You can watch the News of Davidson video of the presentation here.]

The North Carolina Department of Insurance handles ISO inspections and then assigns a Fire Protection Classification Rating, basically a “grade,” for the fire protection in a particular jurisdiction. This rating informs the insurance industry in setting property/home insurance rates.

What is the inspection process the fire department went through?

The inspection, conducted by officials with the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), is required on a regular basis as part of the North Carolina Response Rating System (NCRRS). Among other things, the routine inspections look for proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities, and availability of a water source.

The NCRRS rating system ranges from one (highest) to 10 (not recognized as a certified fire department by the state), with most rural departments falling into the 9S category. While lower ratings do not necessarily indicate poor service, a higher rating does suggest that a department is overall better equipped to respond to fires in its district. Higher ratings can also significantly lower homeowners insurance rates in that fire district.

What did the Davidson Fire Department accomplish?

Before the 2025 inspection, the DFD earned a Class 2 rating within the incorporated city limits and a Class 4 rating for the North Star District, which applies anywhere in the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) within five miles of a fire station.

The new ratings earned are as follows:

“The Davidson Fire Department is proud to share the news of this recent accomplishment with our residents. Our improved classification is the result of many years of hard work by many people, including our firefighters, town staff, the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal’s Office, and town and county leaders – both past and present,” said Davidson Fire Chief Ryan Monteith. "To achieve this rating is no small task, and the department is proud of this accomplishment. We would like to thank everyone who has helped make this possible, and we look forward to continuously working to improve our service to those who live and work in our community.”

Davidson Fire Chief Ryan Monteith (left) and Office of the State Fire Marhshal Division Chief, Davie Summey, following the presentation. (News of Davidson photo)

State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor extended his congratulations to Fire Chief Monteith for the commendable performance of the Davidson Fire Department and the dedicated efforts of its team. "The residents of Davidson and North Star fire districts can take comfort in knowing this highly capable team of firefighters from the Davidson Fire Department is safeguarding them and their belongings in the event of an emergency," stated Fire Marshal Taylor.

OSFM inspections are designed to assess various aspects of fire departments, including equipment, training, and emergency response capabilities, contributing to the overall effectiveness of fire services in North Carolina. State law mandates inspections by OSFM officials for departments serving districts with 100,000 people or fewer.

How does this impact Davidson residents?

ISO rates are submitted to the North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB), which provides services and programs to the insurance industry. Insurance companies then adjust their rates according to a town’s ISO rating. Beginning in March 2026, when the new rates take effect, this could mean a cost savings for those who have homeowner’s insurance. Insurance companies should make any rate changes automatically and should not require any action from policyholders.