NATCHEZ — All Adams County residents could soon join Kingston in saving money on fire insurance.

District 2 Supervisor David Carter said the county meets the four qualifications to move from a fire rating of 10 down to a 9, all that needs to happen is establishing fire districts around the three remaining volunteer stations, Foster Mound Road, Lake Montrose Road and Liberty Road.

“This should help residents in the pocket book,” Carter said. “And this is only the beginning. The goal is to get the fire rating down to seven county-wide.”

Kingston recently improved from a 9 rating to an 8. The Mississippi State Rating Bureau grades municipalities and fire districts on aspects including dispatch, training, personnel, pump capacity and water supply. Fire districts are rated from 1 to 10, with one being the best rating.

Carter said before the rest of the districts can move down to an 8, the county needs to improve its water lines. Currently much of the county has 2-inch lines, but upgrading to 4-inch lines would improve water flow and help with the fire rating.

Debra Harrigill with Byrne Insurance Agency said a basic homeowner with a $100,000 home and a $1,000 deductible would change from $3,421 per year at class 10 to $2,055 for class 9. Harrigill said quotes vary based upon other information gathered.

The criteria for the upgrade include:

-Having a fire apparatus capable of delivering 250 gallons per minute or more at 150 psi and a mounted water tank of at least 200 gallons;

-A minimum of four fire fighters with fire-protective gear responding to all reported first-alarm structure fires;

-The ability to deliver a minimum of 500 gallons of water to all first alarm structure fires;

-The fire district also must keep records on fires, training, meetings, maintenance and a roster.

Carter said he and board president Mike Lazarus recently met with Emergency Management Director Robert Bradford and Fire Coordinator Darryl Smith to discuss if the county met the criteria for upgrading the fire rating.

Carter said 25 residents from each area need to sign the petition to establish the fire district.

“Every day we try to save people money,” Lazarus said. “This is something that can help everybody.”