NATCHEZ — Property owners within 5 road miles of the Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Station have reason to celebrate, as their insurance rates may go down.

Adams County Fire Coordinator Darryl Smith announced recently the Liberty Road fire ratings improved to a 9 down from a 10.

The change is in part as a result of the formation of fire districts surrounding the county’s volunteer fire stations.

Insurance companies use fire ratings as a factor to determine the level of fire protection available for a specific location. Ratings go from a 1 to 10, with a 10 meaning unprotected.

District 3 Supervisor Angela Hutchins said the rating coming down would be a good thing for the Liberty Road area residents.

“We are always looking for ways to bring costs down for people,” Hutchins said. “Insurance costs are so high right now, and this will give them some kind of a discount. This is big for the area.”

Hutchins said the volunteers are working hard to attempt to get the rating down even further.

“I would like to thank the volunteers at Liberty Road — they worked diligently on their end,” she said. “I’d like to commend them on their effort.”

Smith also deserves thanks, Hutchins said.

“He did a great job in going forward with it,” she said.

Hutchins encouraged residents to contact their insurance providers to let them know the rating in the area dropped down to a 9.

Lake Montrose and Foster Mound residents within 5 road miles of the volunteer station also had their ratings drop from a 10 to a 9.

During earlier discussions when forming the fire districts, the annual savings suggested when from moving from a 10 to a 9 were $1,300 for a $100,000 house and a $1,000 deductible.