Analysing Service Equity: Fire Services in Sydney

Abstract

Fire services represent an important sector in localised urban service provision. The equity of such provision is conceptualised in terms of the institutional setting of supply; the distribution of inherent demand; the distribution of supply units; and spatial differentials in response performance. This conceptual framework, being directly related to the supply/demand process, has far greater power than those adopted in most previous research. Although the present distribution of fire stations in Sydney is relatively dispersed, ‘poorly’ served areas may be found on the urban fringe and in the southwestern sector. With a rapid growth in alarm rates in these areas, a conflict has arisen between the need for centralised services focused on high-demand inner-city areas and the need for dispersed services satisfying minimal service requirements for all.