Fort Frances could be the next community to start billing a property owner’s insurance company to recoup the costs of fighting a fire.
Council will decide on the issue at their meeting tonight.
Fire Chief of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service Tyler Moffitt says few people know their insurance policy may contain a clause that cover them if a fire department sends a bill.
“Yes, you pay taxes for your fire rescue service but you lso pay insurance and there is a clause in there for structure fires that fire departments can bill back certain items,” says Moffitt.
Moffitt says the money they would get doesn’t impact on a claim a property owner would file with their insurance company.
If such coverage does not exist, the department will not pursue its claim with the property owner.
Moffitt notes a number of fire departments are already collecting including Thunder Bay’s fire department.
