N.C. Department of Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey let the cat out of the proverbial bag earlier this afternoon in remarks at Central Fire Station on Dabney Drive about some upcoming changes to unyoke the state fire marshal’s office from his department.
“This morning, I had to make some changes in the office of the state fire marshal,” Causey told a gathering assembled to celebrate the 33-year career of retiring Batallion Chief Doug Owen.
The way Causey sees it, the General Assembly is “trying to screw with the setup” by removing the state fire marshal from under the insurance department and making it a stand-alone entity.
Causey said he has named Tony Bailey to lead the fire marshal office, effective Nov. 1.
Bailey also was at the retirement gathering and he spoke with WIZS News after the ceremony was over. Bailey has worked for 15 years helping fire departments lower their ISO rating.
Causey said 80 percent of the state’s more than 1,200 fire departments have improved their ISO ratings. “I can’t understand why the Legislature is doing what it’s doing,” Causey said, of removing the fire marshal from the insurance office.
He said he asked the General Assembly to postpone for a year, but that was not approved, so the changes will take effect Jan.1, 2024.
The new rules call for Causey to name a replacement for himself as fire marshal, and he chose Bailey; the selection will be subject to General Assembly confirmation. The bill that was approved said the fire marshal’s office, although still located within Causey’s office, may act independently.
Bailey said he will do his best to keep operations going and as normal as possible, but there is a lot of reorganizing to do and it will take time to fill positions.
You won’t find him sitting behind a desk in Raleigh, Bailey told the gathering. “I’m here for you, here to work…and to keep our fire marshal’s office on top.”
The insurance commissioner has served the dual role of commissioner and fire marshal for the past 85 years, Causey said, and it is an effective relationship – fire departments work to lower their ratings and that has a direct effect on homeowners’ insurance bills. Lower ISO ratings can lower insurance bills.
“It’s working better than it ever has,” Causey noted, and can’t imagine why legislators voted to change the system.
“We are seeing lower insurance premiums,” he said. “We don’t need the General Assembly to mess it up.”