diff --git a/src/micropolisj/engine/Micropolis.java b/src/micropolisj/engine/Micropolis.java
index 06b16d0..8415d85 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/engine/Micropolis.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/engine/Micropolis.java
@@ -1059,6 +1059,12 @@ public class Micropolis
 		trfDensity[mapY/2][mapX/2] = z;
 	}
 
+	/** Accessor method for fireRate[]. */
+	public int getFireStationCoverage(int xpos, int ypos)
+	{
+		return fireRate[ypos/8][xpos/8];
+	}
+
 	/** Accessor method for landValueMem overlay. */
 	public int getLandValue(int xpos, int ypos)
 	{
diff --git a/src/micropolisj/engine/TerrainBehavior.java b/src/micropolisj/engine/TerrainBehavior.java
index 8975ba2..2665d42 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/engine/TerrainBehavior.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/engine/TerrainBehavior.java
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class TerrainBehavior extends TileBehavior
 			}
 		}
 
-		int cov = city.fireRate[ypos/8][xpos/8];  //fire station coverage
+		int cov = city.getFireStationCoverage(xpos, ypos);
 		int rate = cov > 100 ? 1 :
 			cov > 20 ? 2 :
 			cov != 0 ? 3 : 10;