Tucumcari receives fire rating downgrade

Tucumcari homeowners likely will see an increase in their insurance premiums this fall due to a fire-protection rating downgrade. The city manager expressed optimism it will have its previous rating restored before mid-2022.

Russell Toal, New Mexico’s superintendent of insurance, issued a bulletin in mid-June stating an “unfavorable” change in Tucumcari’s fire-protection rating. The bulletin stated the city’s new public protection classification would take effect Oct. 1.

City manager Mark Martinez confirmed during an interview Wednesday the city’s Insurance Services Office, or ISO, rating for fire protection will be downgraded from a Level 4 to a Level 5.

C.J. Wiegel of Tucumcari General Insurance stated in a recent email such a downgrade would lead generally to a 5% increase in home insurance premiums.

He said homeowners who wished to reduce the rate increase could increase their property loss deductible.

Martinez said he and the city’s interim fire chief, Casey Mackey, were undertaking a plan to address issues cited by the state fire marshal during its last inspection about three years ago and hoped that office would perform a re-inspection before the end of the year.

“We’re hoping to get that back to a (Level) 4,” Martinez said. “It’s not guaranteed. But we’ve talked to the state fire marshal’s office, and we already have some things changed and a plan in place to make it better. Once we do that, we can request they come back and re-inspect us in hopes of getting that ISO Level 4. We’re still funded as the same capacity as a Level 4.”

Martinez admitted a re-inspection before Oct. 1 — when the new fire-protection rating takes effect — would be “unrealistic.” He expressed optimism the city’s Level 4 rating might be restored before May.

Martinez said the city’s fire department is graded by a wide scope of criteria, including water storage capacity, dispatch, firehose tests, training, response times, fire hydrant tests, pump tests and the number of volunteer firefighters.

He said the notion the city was downgraded because of hydrant problems was “false.” He said ISO requires hydrants every 500 feet, while Tucumcari’s city blocks are only 300 feet long.

“We actually have more than required,” he said.

Martinez said he was mystified why the fire marshal’s inspection at least three years ago suddenly was having effects now.

“I think with the previous chief, he was given time to correct some issues, and maybe he didn’t do it,” Martinez said. “I don’t know … I don’t want to speculate. Maybe that’s why they gave us that period of time.”

The previous fire chief was Doug Hogan, who has moved out of the area. He could not be reached for comment.

Martinez said Mackey was doing his best to address the issues listed by the fire marshal.

“I think the interim chief is doing a good job, and I think he’s going to be able to put things in place — he’s already put it in writing — what he’s trying to do to improve our score. We have things now that weren’t accounted for during the last inspection.

“My main thing is, moving forward, we need to do some things better,” Martinez added.

Tucumcari Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield echoed Martinez’s stance on Mackey.

“Casey Mackey has been working hard on getting that corrected and get the rating back to where it was supposed to be,” she said. “It’s not Chief Mackey’s fault; I don’t want anyone to throw him under the bus.”

The Tucumcari City Commission discussed the imminent fire-rating downgrade during meetings in July and August.

Martinez told the commission in August the city’s fire insurance rating declined due to factors such as response time, water pressure and recruitment of volunteer firefighters.

“It has nothing to do with the current fire chief, the previous chief or fire hydrants,” he said at the time.

Martinez acknowledged Wednesday that fire department staffing remained a persistent problem. He speculated the required background tests and drug screenings, which he deems necessary because of the use of heavy equipment and the prospect of life-saving actions, might be a factor.

“We take it seriously, and maybe that’s discouraged some people (from applying),” he said.

He also said the fact many residents work multiple jobs also prevent them from showing up regularly for fire calls.

“Not only do we need volunteers, but we need volunteers who will show up,” Martinez said.

Requests to Martinez to provide a copy of Mackey’s plan or the fire marshal’s report were not fulfilled.

Though the fire department’s rating will go down at least temporarily, Martinez reiterated that it won’t affect its services.

“Just because we’re going to a Level 5 doesn’t make us any less capable as a fire department,” he said. “We’re still providing the same services.”