INDEPENDENCE — The Property Insurance Association of Louisiana bumped up the classification for the Livingston Parish Fire District 11 by five levels, Fire Chief Scott Whiddon announced.

The fire district was upgraded from a Class 10, the lowest possible rating, to a Class 5.

In a letter shared by Whiddon, the PIAL said the new classification can help decrease fire insurance rates.

"Many long hours of work and stress went into improving our abilities to serve the community, and the hard work and dedication of our members helped make that possible," Whiddon said on Facebook.

The fire chief said the new rating goes into effect on Dec. 1. 

Whiddon said they are still working to increase the district's available manpower to help get it up to a Class 4 rating.