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 wit...