Warren County’s share of a statewide fire insurance rebate program grew by about $7,000 for 2005, in what could be a sign of more fire insurance policies being sold.

According to figures released by the Commissioner of Insurance’s office, the State Fire Rebate Insurance funds given to cities and counties reached a record $14,411,531.96, up about 15 percent over 2004. Of that, $7,176,899 went to counties.

Warren County’s six fire protection districts will see $119,096.74 from the disbursement, with its use limited to purchasing or improving equipment and buildings for the county’s network of volunteer fire departments. It can also be used for training purposes.

&#8220We spread it out last year,” Warren County Fire Coordinator Kelly Worthy said, noting that the majority of it will likely be spent on equipment.

In 2004, $112,232.49 was disbursed to Warren County.

Cities also share in the rebates, and the Vicksburg Fire Department is expected to receive $135,009.70.

Chief Keith Rogers said the funds would be used to offset the costs the department incurs when purchasing new fire trucks, upward of $400,000 each.

&#8220We’re mulling buying one every other year,” Rogers said, adding financing terms have improved in recent years with new purchases.

Adding a new platform truck remains a priority, Rogers said.

Commissioner of Insurance George Dale said the increased rebates to the state’s 82 counties were a &#8220realization that people who own homes and businesses need fire insurance.”

In the release, Dale said insurance rates for fire loss have &#8220dropped dramatically to where all Mississippians can afford to purchase it.”

The state began providing insurance premium rebates to cities and counties in the 1970s, but in 1988 launched an initiative to provide low-cost fire protection statewide. Funding was contingent on counties taking the lead in developing rural fire protection.

More than $190 million has been distributed under the program, which is based on a 3 percent tax on all premiums.

Through the rating division of the Department of Insurance, individual fire protection districts are rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best, on such factors as water supply, location, equipment and personnel. Premiums paid by homeowners and businesses are keyed, in part, to the availability and quality of fire response.

Each district in the state is surveyed for a rating once every four or five years, said Richard Parham, a field ratings representative with the department. Occasionally, a district may request a re-rating after it has completed improvements, Parham said.

Vicksburg is consistently ranked at a rating of 5.

Three of Warren County’s six districts improved ratings in recent years, most notably the Fisher Ferry Fire Protection District. There, the rating improved from 10 to 8 in 2004.

The number is a factor many insurance companies use in calculating the price of fire insurance. The lower the number, the lower the risk of claims – meaning insurance can be sold cheaper.

Dale said areas of Warren County in districts who have improved their ratings from 10 to 9 have seen costs of insurance drop up to 13 percent.

&#8220We do have this strange dilemma, though. We have better protection, but it’s puzzling to me why more premiums are being collected. But it’s a good dilemma,” Dale said.

Bill Lovell, an underwriter for State Farm Insurance, indicated that other events that companies insure against like wind and hail could be a factor in the upsurge of funds dispensed.

&#8220Those things wouldn’t affect fire departments,” Lovell said.

Charles Johnson, former owner of Vicksburg Insurance, said fire departments have reaped &#8220a ton of benefits” from the program and reflects a growing number of fire insurance policies sold in the state.

&#8220The more insurance they sell, the more taxes they take in,” Johnson said.

According to the Department of Insurance, there were 350 fire departments in Mississippi with less than 5,000 fire fighters in 1988, the year the program started.

That number has increased to more then 750 main fire stations and 1,200 substations, manned by more than 15,000 firefighters.

In Warren County, the number of volunteers stays in the range of 85 to 100 with up to 40 others who help with fund-raisers and on-site help at fires.

In the city, the Vicksburg Fire Department has 96 firefighters assigned to seven fire stations, with an additional 42 employees as EMTs and support staff.