Havana Fire Dept. Rating Upgrade May Lower Resident Insurance | The Locally Times
The department’s fire protection class rating will change from 10 to 6/6x on March 1, 2026, a move that could lower insurance premiums for property owners in Havana and nearby areas.
The Havana Volunteer Fire Department has improved its fire protection capabilities, a change that may lower insurance costs for local property owners. According to a February 4, 2026, announcement on the Town of Havana’s website, the department’s fire protection class rating will be upgraded from a 10 to a 6/6x, effective March 1, 2026. The rating, which runs from 1 (best) to 10, reflects a fire department’s ability to respond to and suppress fires. A lower number generally indicates better fire protection and can lead to reduced insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses. ## Impact on Insurance Rates The upgrade from Class 10, the lowest possible rating, to Class 6/6x marks a quantifiable improvement in the town’s assessed fire suppression readiness. A 6/6x rating indicates a department meets certain standards for equipment, staffing, water supply, and emergency communications; the dual number often applies to properties based on their distance from a fire station and a fire hydrant. While the Town of Havana’s public notice suggests residents may see savings on their insurance, the document does not provide an estimate of the potential premium reductions. The announcement also does not offer guidance for property owners on how to ensure they receive any applicable discounts from their insurance carriers. Records do not specify which insurance companies will adjust rates based on the new classification. ## Unspecified Department Upgrades The February 4 announcement credits the Havana Volunteer Fire Department’s efforts for the achievement. However, public records do not detail the specific measures or investments that led to the upgrade. Information regarding the total cost of any new equipment, enhanced training programs, or operational changes is not included in the public announcement. The documents do not specify the source of funding for these improvements or outline their approval process. The town announcement directs the public to a document available for download on the Fire Department’s webpage for more information, though the initial notice does not detail that document's contents.