FERRIDAY — While residents will not notice a difference until March from insurance providers, Ferriday’s fire rating will improve from a 10 to a 7, effective next month.

The decreased rating was caused by state insurance paperwork not being filed by acting fire chief Snetville Polk, who took over after Herman Smith retired during the Mayor Gene Allen administration.

Annual insurance premiums increased for Ferriday residents not under the protection of the Concordia Parish Fire District, as those residents still benefited from the district’s class 6 rating.

Ferriday Fire Chief Joe Sontoyo said the station was able to get that oversight corrected and by March insurance providers would be notified of the change.

“It worked out, it just took a little time,” Sontoyo said. “Every little community has its problems.”

Sontoyo said as a result, fire ratings should go back down. Sontoyo said his own insurance went up $450 per year and he expected that amount to come back down next year.

“For everyone it is going to be different,” Sontoyo said. “But overall it is a plus for us.”

Ferriday’s rating had previously been a 6. Sontoyo said he was not told if a single factor caused the rating to not return to a 6 when the paperwork was filed correctly.

However, Sontoyo said factors include equipment, training, water pressure throughout the town, having enough firefighters respond to a fire and making sure reports are filed correctly.

Sontoyo said the town could return to a 6 rating. Sontoyo said the department would stay on top of the paperwork and firefighters are training, but the other factors would require additional money.

“We can work it out,” Sontoyo said. “It just takes time.”