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nce upon a time the Natchez Fire Department was one of the best in the state.

Years ago, city leaders realized the importance of fire protection was magnified by our historic downtown with buildings stacked next to buildings.

But somehow through the years the department has not kept up with the times.

Volunteers from the community had to raise money recently to provide the department with thermal imaging cameras.

Now, the city recently learned that, unless improvements are made, the city’s fire rating of a 5 on a 1-to-10 scale is in jeopardy.

The fire ratings play a significant role in how insurance companies price policies for businesses and homeowners.

The lower the number, the better the state’s rating agency judges the quality of the local fire protection.

The agency recently warned Natchez to make improvements or the city’s ratings would drop.

The warning effectively lights a fuse. The city has 60 days to prepare and present a plan for how to address the rating bureau’s concerns.

City leaders need to stop squabbling between themselves, focus on finding the money in this year’s budget to make any hires necessary and again equip the city’s department to be among the top in the state again.

Fire protection is among the most basic things a municipal government can do for its citizens. Natchez citizens deserve the best, as do the brave, hard-working people at the Natchez Fire Department.

Unfortunately, we have not been giving them our best over the last few years and it shows with the rating warning.