But a county effort to install more fire hydrants could draw from money needed to replace aging fire trucks, making it tough to hold on to the new ratings, Daily said.

"Now that we’ve got the 6, we’ve got to be able to feed the 6," Dailey said.

The county increased the annual budget of every mainland department and Carova to $253,665. Corolla’s budget fell from more than $1 million to $375,124 after the county took over operation of some services. Budgets used to be divided according to each department’s request and need, but this year departments evenly split $1.5 million.

Corolla got more to pay for medical services not financed by the county, said Rick Galganski, Corolla fire chief. By next year, the county plans to staff all medical services, and Corolla’s budget will fall to the level of other departments, according to the budget.

Leftover money is supposed to be returned to a large fireequipment fund at the end of the year. That money could be used to install more fire hydrants and larger water lines, meaning reduced insurance for more homes, said Barry Nelms, chairman of the Currituck County Board of Commissioners. Each hydrant could cost $5,000, and that’s without having to expand the water line by at least 6 inches, Nelms said.

"We’re asking them to spend only what they need for their fire department," he said. "We’re going to put the extra back into the pockets of people who need help to lower their insurance bill."

But fire departments wanted to set aside extra money for buying trucks, Dailey said. Some trucks are more than 20 years old, he said.