Vicksburg and Warren County’s shares from a statewide fire insurance rebate program grew in 2008 as local and statewide funds reached new highs.

Funds from the State Fire Rebate Insurance Program totaled $14.7 million this year, up from $13.5 million last year.

“That’s more than what we’ve ever collected in the program,” said Joe Ammerman of the Mississippi Insurance Department, which also acts as the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Of that, Warren County’s six fire protection districts received $122,391.64. Vicksburg was rebated $136,767.46, which will go into the VFD budget.

Rebate funds were used to finance new trucks for the Fisher Ferry and LeTourneau districts this year, Warren County Fire Coordinator Kelly Worthy said.

This year, Fisher Ferry’s fire protection taxing district was expanded to become the county’s largest, picking up an extra 13 square miles in southeast Warren County to cover more than 33 square miles and 3,333 homes and businesses. On tax bills arriving this month, the assessment means about $20 more on a $100,000 home.

Carryover funds enabled Vicksburg to purchase a pumper truck this year at its Halls Ferry Park station, Fire Chief Keith Rogers said.

A fire rescue unit, used in extrications at motor vehicle accidents, was also added with rebate funds, Rogers said.

“It’s basically a tool truck, but it’s a pretty busy unit,” Rogers said.

The state program involves paying back a 3 percent tax collected on all fire insurance premiums annually to local governments in Mississippi to maintain low-cost fire protection statewide. More than $200 million has been distributed under the program since 1988, when incentives were offered to counties to extend fire protection to all rural areas.

Individual fire districts are rated by the state every few years on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best. It takes into account factors including water supply, pumping capacity, personnel, location and equipment. Fisher Ferry and Culkin have improved ratings to 8 in evaluations in the past five years. Vicksburg’s rating of 5 dates back five years and the department awaits another review soon, Rogers said.

Hikes in rebates from the program have indicated that more fire insurance policies were sold in a given year.

Addressing the Vicksburg Lions Club on Wednesday, Commissioner of Insurance and State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney said premiums on homeowners insurance as a whole can vary more than $1,000 based on the nearest fire protection district — with rates going from $350 for a home valued at $100,000 in a district rated a 5 to $1,500 for a similar-sized home if it’s in a district rated a 10.

“So it’s important to keep a good fire rating. You keep a good fire rating by having trained employees and good equipment,” Chaney said.

Warren County volunteer numbers have remained in the 85 to 100 range, Worthy said, with 40 others as support staff at fires and at fund-raisers.

Vicksburg Fire Department ranks have reached 120 assigned to seven fire stations, with nearly all of them trained as EMTs or paramedics.

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Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com.