Communications | July 2, 2026
St[. Clair Township, ON – July 2, 2026 – The St. Clair Township Fire Department is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed the requirements for Superior Tanker Shuttle Service (STSS) accreditation for both residential and commercial fire protection.
Superior Tanker Shuttle Service accreditation is recognized by Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) and demonstrates that a fire department can deliver a reliable, sustained water supply in areas that may not be protected by municipal fire hydrants. Through this accreditation, SCFD has shown that it can shuttle water by tanker and maintain the required fire flows needed for residential and commercial fire protection.
“This is an important achievement for St. Clair Township,” said Fire Chief Richard Boyes. “It demonstrates the capability, training, planning and professionalism of our firefighters, and it may also provide a direct financial benefit to eligible residents and commercial businesses through potential insurance rate reductions.”
To qualify for residential accreditation, a fire department must deliver a minimum fire flow of 200 gallons per minute. To qualify for commercial accreditation, the department must deliver a minimum fire flow of 400 gallons per minute. During the final portion of the STSS test, SCFD exceeded both requirements and achieved a maximum sustained flow of 650 gallons per minute.
“This achievement reflects years of investment in training, apparatus, water supply planning and firefighter commitment.” – Chief Richard Boyes
This accreditation is especially important in the Township’s rural and non-hydrated areas. Many properties outside hydrant-protected areas are traditionally rated differently by insurance companies because they do not have immediate access to a municipal water system. STSS accreditation provides insurers with recognized documentation that the Fire Department can deliver an equivalent water supply using tankers, approved water sources and trained firefighters.
“This accreditation shows the value of investing in our fire fleet,” said St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar. “By maintaining our pumpers and tankers on a regular replacement schedule, we can continue meeting these standards and use this to help some of our rural residents save on their insurance premiums.
“The fire services have always had my full support.”
Once FUS issues formal recognition, eligible residential property owners and commercial business owners may contact their insurance provider or broker to request a review of their fire insurance rating. Property owners should specifically advise their insurer that the St. Clair Township Fire Department has achieved Superior Tanker Shuttle Service accreditation for both residential and commercial protection and ask whether the property qualifies for a rate reduction.
Eligibility will depend on the insurance provider’s underwriting practices and the property’s location. In general, FUS recognition is based on distance from a responding fire station and an approved water supply point. Residents and businesses are encouraged to speak directly with their insurance company, as premium reductions are not automatic and may vary between insurers.
The formal recognition from Fire Underwriters Survey is expected to be available by mid-August 2026. Once received, the Township will post the information on the municipal website under the Fire Department section so residents, businesses and insurance providers can access the documentation.
“This achievement reflects years of investment in training, apparatus, water supply planning and firefighter commitment,” said Chief Boyes. “It confirms that the St. Clair Township Fire Department can provide a high level of fire protection in areas without hydrants, and it allows our residents and businesses to ask their insurance providers for recognition of that improved protection.”
For more information, residents and businesses are encouraged to visit the Fire Department section of the St. Clair Township website once the formal FUS documentation has been posted.
[Photos: Crews from all six St. Clair Fire stations were on hand recently for a simulation exercise as part of their Superior Tanker Shuttle Accreditation evaluation in Corunna.]
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MEDIA CONTACT:
St. Clair Township Fire Department
Chief Richard Boyes
Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief
Phone: 519-481-0111
Email: rboyes@stclairfire.ca