The Jonesboro Fire Department has received a Class two fire protection from the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana. The department previously held a Class three rating.
“I’m definitely excited by it,” Jonesboro Fire Chief Aaron Blalock said. “I mean, we were shooting to keep the three, but got the two, so excited.” Blalock says his department has been focusing on shortening response times and new training.
“We try to offer a good bit of training throughout the year,” Blalock said. “We do a lot of live fire training, burning, dilapidated structures around the city, and that gives everybody the training, live fire training.”
Mayor James Harris says the new designation will decrease insurance premiums for city residents and businesses. “Now your property insurance will go down,” Harris said. “I don’t know how much at this time, but it’s exciting with us. Not only that, it gives us the ability to show that our residents, our businesses, that, you know, look, we have a great fire department. They’re able to be there when needed. You know, they’re trained. They know what they’re doing.”
