The North Carolina Response Rating System is a division of the Department of Insurance (DOI).  NCRRS inspects fire departments and grades them based on their resources and ability to fight structural fires.

The rating is performed on a 1-10 scale, with 1 being the best possible rating and 10 being the worse possible rating (also referred to as “unprotected”). New Bern Fire-Rescue currently holds a NCRRS protection class three (3). NCRRS rates 1,314 fire departments in North Carolina; only one department has a class one (1) rating, eight departments have a class two (2) rating, and 32 departments have a class three (3) rating.