The East Gold Hill Fire District received a 6/10 rating from the Office of the State Fire Marshall following a routine inspection. It was announced by N.C. Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshall Wayne Goodwin in November. The rating becomes effective March 1.

The inspection is required as part of the North Carolina Response Rating System. The inspection considers staffing levels, equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communication capabilities and availability of a water source.

The rating system ranges from one, the highest, to 10, not recognized as a certified fire department. An improved rating indicates the department is better equipped to respond to fires in its district. A rural department often ranks at 9. Higher ratings can lower homeowners’ insurance rates.

“I’d like to congratulate Chief Earnhardt for his department’s performance and for the hard work of all the department members,” said Goodwin. “The citizens in the East Gold Hill Fire District should rest easy knowing they have a fine group of firefighters protecting them and their property in case of an emergency.”

State law requires official to inspect departments serving districts of 100,000 people or less, which includes all but six of the state’s fire districts.