Warren County Fire Department to restructure – The Vicksburg Post

The Warren County Fire Services organizational structure recently changed. Previously, the fire departments consisted of six stations that were classified as individual nonprofit organizations. However, these nonprofit organizations were consolidated under an umbrella organization called Warren County Fire Services.

This organization includes a Board of Supervisors with five members who serve varying terms. The Board of Supervisors is responsible for distributing funds, equipment and personnel at the district level. One station, Northeast, was merged with Culkin, so there are now five stations in total.

Kelle Barfield, president of the Warren County Board of Supervisors and District 5 supervisor, said the change is aimed at keeping fire ratings as high as possible because they can impact homeowners insurance premiums and other municipal services.

“A key aspect of managing fire protection services in Warren County is keeping our rating of those services as positive as possible with the rating agencies that determine the quality of fire protection,” Barfield said. “Part of that has to do with personnel, equipment, equipment maintenance and other factors.”

The rating agency recommended that the board make the changes after the district had problems meeting staffing needs at some stations.

Barfield said the change, which took effect July 1, will help minimize fire insurance costs for residents.

“From a rating perspective, you now have the combined staff resources, not divided. Ultimately, what this does is keep the rating as high as possible for all the stations in Warren County, which in turn makes fire insurance much more competitive and stays lower for residents,” she said.

The Warren County Fire Department is supported by a $127,000 budget each year. Previously, this money was distributed individually to each fire station. Now, this money will be made available to the new single organization.

Barfield also said residents would likely not notice a change in the services offered.

“The most important thing is that you won’t see any change at all,” she said. “It’s the same dedicated people providing the same service from the same stations as always.”