Reforming Fire Department Evaluations on Whidbey Island

Firefighters on Whidbey Island are calling for significant changes in how fire departments are evaluated, pointing out the absence of a county fire marshal as a critical oversight. "Everybody's got to play together for an improved system," emphasized Chief Nick Walsh of South Whidbey Fire/EMS. This call for reform highlights crucial gaps affecting fire insurance premiums.

Insurance companies frequently rely on protection class ratings, assessed every five years by the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau, to set their fire insurance premiums. A recent evaluation commissioned by the state Legislature critiqued the bureau's system as lacking transparency and not performance-oriented, emphasizing the challenges faced by rural and volunteer fire departments.

Led by a former U.S. Fire Administrator, the assessment ran for five months starting late 2025 and was presented by Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer to the Senate and House insurance committees in May. The report raises concerns about fairness, especially concerning rural areas and volunteer departments, motivating calls for reform.

While recognizing the current system's statewide consistency, the report advocates for substantial updates to "key legislative and regulatory gaps." Fire chiefs on Whidbey have been pressing for a county fire marshal appointment to improve fire services and enhance regulatory compliance.

Improving transparency in rating determinations is a statewide concern, according to the report. The bureau's lack of access to "raw scoring data and detailed point-value calculations" complicates performance improvements. Chief Walsh remarked on this hurdle, explaining departments know evaluation criteria but lack specific scoring insights.

Bill Harris, deputy chief of the Oak Harbor Fire Department, stressed the necessity for clear and objective standards to better guide resource allocation. He admitted that while a performance-based system is advantageous, avoiding subjectivity remains challenging.

Rural and volunteer departments particularly struggle with current standards, affecting areas like staffing and equipment age. Despite some disagreements over ratings fairness, fire chiefs agree on the need for system updates. Chief Jerry Helm of Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue recounted losing rating points over outdated criteria like fire hose-drying space.

Ensuring accountability among involved entities is vital. The report highlights how ratings are influenced by external data from dispatch centers and water providers, impacting a department’s evaluation outside their direct control. Chief Helm described challenges in acquiring updated water provider data, calling it a persistent problem.

North Whidbey Fire and Rescue is disputing its recent rating, citing the absence of essential local data. While additional data from Island County brought some improvements, the overall impact on ratings was limited.

Chief Walsh stressed the dependency on county resources for successful bureau evaluations and stated that without a fire marshal, Whidbey departments lack oversight on fire code compliance and investigations. Despite local fire chiefs’ efforts to fill this crucial role, which could greatly benefit operations, the position continues to reside within the sheriff's office responsibilities, unfulfilled.