The extension of fire districts in Bladen County to a six-mile radius of the station will lower the insurance rates for a number of families who now live outside the fire district boundaries.

In a written report to the Bladen County Commissioners, Fire Marshal Mitchell Byrd said that work on extending the boundaries of the fire districts is well on the way and should be completed by June 30.

Byrd said the had completed new maps for the Kelly and Tar Heel fire districts and was working on the final revisions for the Bladenboro district.

"The project requires that I ride the present fire district to map out new six mile points and write a description of the new district," Byrd said. "Hopefully with the ongoing revisions to our GIS department, this process will be enhanced by computer-aided drawings."

Byrd said that when the changes are made, individuals within six miles of the fire station will receive a "9" rural fire insurance rating.

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