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NCFPD updates highway incident billing costs

The North County Fire Protection District has a cost recovery program which bills insurance companies for the district's cost to respond to highway incidents, and July 24, the NCFPD board voted 5-0 to update the fee structure.

"We elevated our rates to the industry average," said NCFPD fire chief Steve Abbott. "It's a very modest increase."

Although the increases equate to approximately 12 percent, the fire district had never previously incorporated a consumer price index adjustment. The July 24 action incorporates an annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index for San Diego County with the adjusted fees rounded up to the nearest $10 increment but not to exceed the regional average of increase.

The NCFPD cost recovery program was implemented in April 2009. "We have not updated the fees in that period of time," Abbott said.

The fire district works with Cost Recovery USA on the billing for incidents, and that company recommended that the North County Fire Protection District raise its fees to match the inflation over the past nine years.

"The CPI's just a bit higher than that," Abbott said.

The cost of providing service is not recovered if there is no insurance involved, and if the cost of responding to the incident exceeds the insurance policy's limits the fire district will not receive the full amount. "The bills go to the insurance company. They don't go to the customer," Abbott said.

If utilities cause safety problems for highway areas and fire district response is required to restore safe conditions the utility company will be billed.

The minimum billing level for a motor vehicle accident will be $487, which will cover scene safety and investigation including traffic control, patient contact and hazard control. If gasoline or other automotive fluids are spilled and cleanup procedures are required the fee increases to $554. The fee to respond to a car fire was increased to $678. If extrication equipment is used the fire district will bill for $2,016, although if a vehicle occupant is unconscious and the door can be opened to access the patient without special equipment the insurance company will not be billed for extrication. If the patient is transported by helicopter the fee will be $2,352.

The lowest hazardous materials response fee was increased to $784 and covers engine response, perimeter establishment, evacuations, and first responder setup and command. If protective suits, breathing equipment, detection equipment, and decontamination are required the fee will be $2,800. If disposal is required the fee is $6,608 for three hours and $300 for each additional hour per hazardous materials team, and the disposal fees will be added.

In the event of a gas, sewer, septic, or water pipeline incident the basic $448 fee will cover engine response, perimeter establishment, evacuations, first responder setup and command, and pipeline inspection; that fee is continent upon the pipeline not having breakage or other damage. If repairs are required the fee will be $1,120.

The updated fees are expected to increase the fire district's highway incident cost recovery revenue from $70,000 to $78,400.

Author Bio

Joe Naiman, Writer

Joe Naiman has been writing for the Village News since 2001

 

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