Fire Stations Research Articles

Determining the Optimal Fire Station Locations in Baghdad Al-Rusafa Using GIS Models and Data

The study of sitology has a long historical background and has recently attracted the attention of many researchers. One of its most important branches is the location of fire stations, which are of great importance in major cities. One of the most important features of an appropriate location is increasing coverage and reducing access time. In this research, geographic information systems were used to choose the most appropriate sites on the Al-Rasafa side in the city of Baghdad/Iraq to facilitate access to the scene of the accident as soon as possible from the fire stations and through the use of the geographical database of the city of Baghdad. GIS analysis was used to build the mathematical model that was adopted based on a number of criteria, including land use, distance to commercial malls, government and educational institutions, hospitals, and distance from existing fire stations. A weight was given to each of these criteria using the Overlay Weighted tool from spatial analysis in geographic information systems to determine the most appropriate areas. Then the road network was added to the criteria used, and then the selection was made on the areas close to the main roads, so the search results were to determine the best sites in Al-Karrada, Al-Sadr City, and Al-Adhamiya.

Burn Period: A use-inspired metric to track wildfire risk across Arizona and New Mexico in the southwest U.S.

Abstract Numerous tools and indices exist for wildland fire managers to anticipate and track changes in wildfire risk driven by variability in weather and climate conditions at hourly to seasonal scales. However, in working closely with southwest U.S. managers, we learned of a simple meteorological metric being informally used, but not widely accessible in existing tools or information products, to gauge short-term changes in wildfire risk. This metric, termed ‘Burn Period’ (BP), is the local count of hours per day with relative humidity values equal to or less than 20%. Our collaboration led to the development of an experimental tool called the ‘Burn Period Tracker’ to ease access and promote use of BP values for planning and response. This study is a climatological analysis of BP values at 124 fire weather stations across Arizona and New Mexico for the period 2000-2022 to aid in interpretation and understanding of this use-inspired metric. BP values reflect the strong seasonality in temperature and moisture deficit-driven wildfire risk across the southwest U.S., with risk climbing through the arid spring season, peaking in June, and then falling rapidly with the onset of the summer monsoon in July. Regression analyses show that short-term variability in BP values are driven by variability in low level atmospheric moisture in all months with strongest relationships during the summer after the onset of the monsoon. This study highlights the utility of BP as a short-term wildfire planning tool as well as an example of collaborative weather and climate services development.

Beyond the Ire of Flames: Work Experiences of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Station Chiefs

Fire occurrences have significantly risen in recent years. These fires endanger lives, cause economic damage, and harm the environment. Uncontrolled fires are a major reason for building collapses and injuries. Building fires cause trauma due to the loss of belongings and the building itself. Existing fire safety systems are failing due to unaddressed factors causing building fires (Rathnayake et al., 2020). This study explored the experiences of the station chiefs of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Iloilo Province, Philippines, through a qualitative research method. The participants of this study were the selected ten (10) BFP station chiefs. All participants were subjected to an individual in-depth interview. The findings of this study are described in emergent themes. Six (6) emergent themes described the positive and negative experiences of the informants in the performance of their duties. For the positive experiences, two (2) emergent themes were developed, namely Personal Satisfaction Through Job Fulfillment and Workplace Camaraderie and Support. For the negative experiences, four (4) emergent themes were also developed, namely: Inadequate Resources and Financial Challenges, Complexity of Leadership and Personnel Management, Bombarded with Public Dissatisfaction, and Operational Delays and Equipment Failures. Meanwhile, three (3) emergent themes were formulated to explain how the participants address the challenges encountered in the performance of their duties, namely: Empowering Collaboration and Support Networks, Bolstering Preventive Measures and Education, and Embodying Resilience and Adaptability. Finally, three (3) emergent themes were created to express the aspirations of participants to improve the quality of their services, namely Continuous Training and Professional Development, Adequate Fiscal Allocation and Service Facilities, and Improvement of Personnel and Staffing Issues. Based on the emergent themes identified, it is recommended that the fire station chiefs be enhanced by providing them with specialized training and career development programs. This can be accomplished by the successful integration of the latest firefighting technologies in the specialized training to enhance the response effectiveness of their station.

“It's all about trust!” a multilevel model of the effect of servant leadership on firefighters' group task performance, adaptivity and emotional exhaustion

AbstractHow and why does servant leaders' behavior influence both performance (individual and collective) and emotional exhaustion within dynamic and extreme environments such as those of firefighters? We develop and test a multilevel model that integrates the principles of servant leadership with social exchange theory to explore how servant leadership positively influences collective task performance and how it strengthens adaptivity at the individual level and reduces emotional exhaustion. Our four‐wave and three‐source study sample comprised 303 firefighters nested in 45 fire stations. The results of multilevel structural equation model (MSEM) analyses indicate that at the individual level, servant leadership significantly predicts high adaptivity and low emotional exhaustion through the mediating influence of firefighters' felt trust and the trust climate. The implications of our results for theory and practice are discussed.

Predicting smoke temperature distribution beneath ceiling for a large subway station fire

Fire accident seriously threatens the stable operation and personnel security in the subway station, and clarifying the smoke temperature distribution is conducive to arranging reasonably fire alarm. In this study, model experiments and numerical simulations are conducted to investigate the ceiling temperature profiles, mainly altering the heat release rate (HRR) and fire locations in a large subway station. The repeatability of the experimental data is confirmed, and the numerical model is validated by the measurement data. During a fire happening in a large-wide space, the smoke movement beneath the ceiling can be divided into radial and one-dimensional flow, whose prediction models are proposed under fire source located at the center. On this basis, it can be found that the radial temperature profile is independent of fire source location. While, the one-dimensional temperature distribution model is modified by introducing the effects of transvers and longitudinal fire locations respectively. This work could provide data support and theoretical reference for clarifying the smoke movement for large subway station fire.

Experimental Study on Seismic Performance Evaluation of a Multi-Story Steel Building Model with Rolling-Type Seismic Base Isolation

Critical structures such as hospitals, high-precision manufacturing facilities, telecommunications centers, and fire stations, especially, need to maintain their functionality even during severe earthquakes. In this sense, seismic isolation technology serves as a vital design method for preserving their functionality. Seismic isolators, also known as earthquake isolation systems, are used to reduce the effects of earthquakes on buildings by isolating them from the ground they are located on. By ensuring that less acceleration and force demand is transmitted to the superstructure, both the building and the equipment and the devices in the building are prevented from being damaged by earthquakes. This experimental study aims to conduct vibration tests on a small-scale multi-story steel-building model equipped with a specially designed rolling-type seismic base isolation system. The relationship between the test model and the prototype was achieved by frequency simulation. The tests will be performed on a shake table under six different earthquake accelerations to examine the model’s dynamic behavior. The primary goal is to evaluate the isolation performance of the rolling-type seismic base isolator under seismic loads, with a focus on recording the vibrations at the top of the test building. It has been observed that the isolator placed at the base of the building significantly reduced the peak acceleration and displacement values of the floor motion. Under the most severe earthquake record applied to the shake table, the acceleration at the top of the building with the isolator was found to be reduced by approximately 50%, compared to the non-isolated case.

Design and Implementation of a GSM-Based Home Protection System Against Gas Cylinder Explosion

The aim of this work is to design and implement a GSM-based smart home protection system against the possible life-threatening firing and damage of properties due to gas cylinder explosions. These hazardous explosions are increasingly happened in Bangladesh in the recent years and hence, become serious concerns for the safety of individuals residing in a house. The system designed and implemented in this work can identify unnatural gas leakage by using gas sensors and also, sense unusual temperature increases due to firing inside a house or a restaurant by using temperature sensors. The proposed system ensures multi-level security. The audio and visual alerts are ensured by the use of fire alarms and LEDs respectively. Using GSM module, the system also makes emergency calls and sends SMS to the owner and the nearby fire station to take prompt actions. One servo motor stops the gas valve to cease the gas leakage and another one starts the water valve to flow water to reduce the temperature. Additionally, an exhaust fan is used to reduce the room temperature and let the gas flow out. Therefore, the proposed system is a potential solution to reduce life risks and property damage due to gas cylinder explosion.

Study On Real Estate Location Based on GIS Technology

Through a review of relevant literature,this study categorizes factors affecting real estate site selection into three main categories: environmental, social, and economic, termed as the "triple bottom line." Based on the "triple bottom line," a PUM (Portfolio Underwriting Model) model was constructed. Meanwhile, GIS technology was utilized to identify the locations of public transportation stations, medical institutions, schools, and fire stations within Xiamen City. Additionally, different regions were delineated into suitable residential areas based on slope, aspect, land type, and per capita GDP. Combining the PUM model with GIS technology ultimately aids in real estate market site selection. The research findings indicate that integrating the PUM model and GIS technology for real estate site selection allows for a more scientific and comprehensive evaluation of various site selection factors, thereby providing important decision-making support for developers and investors.

A new fuzzy location-based approach for fire station site selection in Tehran

A new fuzzy location-based approach for fire station site selection in Tehran

Flood Risks Analysis in Upton Upon Severn: Assessing the Baseline Conditions and Future Scenarios for 100 and 1000-year Flood Events with a 2050 Climate Change Perspective.

This paper investigates the flood risks in Upton upon Severn, a town in Worcestershire, England, which is prone to fluvial flooding from the River Severn. Historical events, such as the significant floods of 1947 and 2007, highlight the town’s vulnerability and underscore the importance of analysing current and future flood risks. This research uses a one-dimensional hydraulic model, using Flood Modeller and QGIS software, to assess baseline flood conditions and predict the potential impacts of severe and extreme flood events, including 1 in 100-year and 1 in 1000-year flood scenarios. Additionally, it examines the projected effects of climate change by incorporating a 20% increase in flood risk estimates for the year 2050. The model results reveal that the baseline scenario poses limited flood risks, with only 17 properties affected, and key infrastructure like the A4104 road remains passable. However, under the 1 in 100-year event, approximately 336 properties are at risk, with significant road blockages and a flooded area of 5.09 Km2. The 1 in 1000-year flood scenario predicts a peak flow of 1807 m3/s, threatening more properties and covering a larger area of land. When climate change is factored into the 1 in 100-year scenario, the risks become similar to those of the 1 in 1000-year event, with 500 properties and key infrastructure, including the fire station and primary school, at risk and the A4104 road becoming impassable. These findings provide vital insights for flood risk management, especially given the possible effects of climate change, and stress the need for long-term solutions to flooding.

Infrastructure distribution in cities and the improvement of the well-being of citizens in Japan: evidence from the quantile regression

ABSTRACT Urban construction under the aging society needs to provide efficient services for residents. We investigated the heterogenous relationship between various types of municipality-level critical infrastructure and park construction and the subjective well-being of citizens based on quantile regression using original survey data and the Japanese government statistics bureau of 2015-2017. Positive relationships were found in the low-and middle-level life satisfaction regions owing to the construction of museums or libraries, government branches, government services, health centers, police stations, fire stations, schools, hospitals, post offices, disabled and senior centers, and parks. Moreover, citizens were more likely to feel safe if the living community had comprehensive government-related institutions, including government offices, police stations, fire stations, schools, and post offices, among others. Our results indicated that the number of favorable infrastructures should be increased in areas with low levels of life satisfaction and less-safe communities to improve the citizens’ overall well-being.

Estimating casualties from urban fires: A focus on building and urban environment information

This study developed two prediction models for urban fire occurrence and related casualties via a fire accident dataset from Seoul, South Korea, from 2017 to 2021. Our models exhibit improved predictive performance by incorporating built environment features, such as building characteristics and the urban context, alongside weather and demographic data. This approach showed improved predictive performance suitable for public health implementation. Compared with the weather- and demographic-only models, our models had an 18.1 % greater fire occurrence prediction accuracy and a 10.4 % greater casualty prediction accuracy. Major variables affecting fire occurrence include building characteristics, e.g., the floor area ratio (FAR), building age, and commercial building number. Important features affecting casualty occurrence include demographic aspects, e.g., income level and weather, and network-based features, e.g., road connectivity and fire station proximity. These findings suggest that fire prevention strategies and fire casualty prevention strategies may need to differ. Furthermore, we identify high-risk zones by conducting spatial analysis and fire risk and casualty prediction on all buildings by applying our models to Seoul's Gangnam District. These contributions can promote safe and healthy urban environments by improving fire risk prediction accuracy and providing important insights into urban planning for appropriate urban fire accident response and prevention.

Spatial Evaluation and Modelling of Fire Stations Layout to Access Forest Fires by Roads (Case Study: Krasnoyarsk Region, Russia)

Regional forest fire protection services on the ground usually have a fire station infrastructure with firefighting vehicles capable of moving by public and forest roads. The location of fire stations is a subject of evaluation on the regional scale and a matter of constant research interest. Infrastructure and transport accessibility, as well as the spatial location of fire stations worldwide and in Russia, were discussed. Location-Allocation ArcGIS tool and the access routes database for Krasnoyarsk region (archived data of 2002-2022 forest fires detected by MODIS containing 60637 records) were the base of methodology to evaluate fire station layout. The settlement dataset from Open Street Map (OSM) was used to analyze new locations as candidates for a fire station. Standard Deviational Ellipse ArcGIS tool was applied to define an optimal area for the current fire station from which routes to the nearest fires are built. OSM settlements inside of 1-sd area of the ellipse were used to generate the candidate list of settlements to find new locations instead of the current fire station. Results have been evaluated for 3 groups of access routes: 3 hours and less, more than 3 hours, and access routes of any duration according to the Russian forestry rules. The proposed fire station layout has improved forest fire accessibility with OSM candidates for 39 stations; 20 of 59 remain spatially unchanged. Total regional forest fire accessibility changed from the current to the proposed layout in absolute values from 47331 to 48905 fires. Analysis of 39 relocated stations showed that the new fire station layout is more optimal than the current one because it provides access to an additional 20 % of forest fires with a decrease in average weighted time to reach them by 30 %. The described methodology could make an emergency response during a fire-hazardous period more effective.

Comprehensive Assessment of Flood Risk and Vulnerability for Essential Facilities: Iowa Case Study

In this study, nine different types of essential facilities in the state of Iowa (such as hospitals, fire stations, schools, etc.) were analyzed on a county level in terms of flood depth, functionality and restoration time after flooding, and damage sustained during flooding. These essential facilities were also analyzed on the state level in terms of their location relative to the 100 y and 500 y flood zones. Results show that the number of essential facilities within the flood extent reached up to 39%, and during the 100 y flood scenario all but one of the six chosen counties lost functionality of 100% of their facilities. Most essential facilities were found to have a flood depth of 1 to 4 ft deep and a restoration time of 480 days. The purpose of this study is to bring awareness to decisionmakers regarding the risk that flooding events pose to essential facilities and to highlight the increasing dangers of flooding on a broader scale. This study will be beneficial to improve mitigation strategies, emergency response plans, and ensuring that emergency services and facilities are available in the event of future floods for the affected areas.

Analisis Lokasi Pos Damkar Berdasarkan Peta Kerawanan Kebakaran Menggunakan SIG Di Jakarta Timur

This research aims to analyze the range of fire post locations on the fire vulnerability map in East Jakarta. The methodology of this research is quantitative research with data analysis techniques using GIS analysis, namely network analysis to create fire post affordability, and overlay analysis to create fire vulnerability maps. Based on result there are still areas that have not been reached, especially in Duren Sawit, Cakung, Makasar, Cipayung and Ciracas Districts. When viewed in terms of fire disaster vulnerability, East Jakarta City has a medium-high level of vulnerability, while areas with a low level of vulnerability are very few with an area of only 15 hectares. Areas with a medium level of vulnerability dominate with a total area of 12,362 hectares, while areas with a high level of vulnerability cover an area of 6,124 hectares. If an overlay analysis is carried out on the distance between fire posts and the fire vulnerability of residential areas in East Jakarta, it can be seen that there are still areas with a high-medium fire vulnerability class that are not yet reached by fire posts covering an area of 6,018.08 hectares. In fact, 46% of all areas with a high level of fire vulnerability have not been reached by fire stations. These areas are found in Duren Sawit, Ciracas and Cipayung sub-districts. It is recommended that fire posts be built in unreached areas to ensure disaster management is more efficient. This research aims to analyze the range of fire post locations on the fire vulnerability map in East Jakarta. The methodology of this research is quantitative research with data analysis techniques using GIS analysis, namely network analysis to create fire post affordability, and overlay analysis to create fire vulnerability maps. Based on result there are still areas that have not been reached, especially in Duren Sawit, Cakung, Makasar, Cipayung and Ciracas Districts. When viewed in terms of fire disaster vulnerability, East Jakarta City has a medium-high level of vulnerability, while areas with a low level of vulnerability are very few with an area of only 15 hectares. Areas with a medium level of vulnerability dominate with a total area of 12,362 hectares, while areas with a high level of vulnerability cover an area of 6,124 hectares. If an overlay analysis is carried out on the distance between fire posts and the fire vulnerability of residential areas in East Jakarta, it can be seen that there are still areas with a high-medium fire vulnerability class that are not yet reached by fire posts covering an area of 6,018.08 hectares. In fact, 46% of all areas with a high level of fire vulnerability have not been reached by fire stations. These areas are found in Duren Sawit, Ciracas and Cipayung sub-districts. It is recommended that fire posts be built in unreached areas to ensure disaster management is more efficient.

Occupational Exposure of On-Shift Ottawa Firefighters to Flame Retardants and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

Firefighters can be exposed to complex mixtures of airborne substances, including hazardous substances released during structural fires. This study employed silicone wristbands (SWBs) as passive samplers to investigate potential exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and flame retardants (FRs). SWBs were deployed at different areas of four fire stations, in four truck cabins, and at an office control location; they were also donned outside the jackets of 18 firefighters who responded to fire calls. Overall, office areas had significantly lower PAHs than fire station areas. Vehicle bays and truck cabins had significantly higher concentrations of low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs than sleeping and living room areas. For organophosphate ester flame retardants (OPFRs), tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) were detected in all the samples; 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) was more frequently detected in the fire station areas. Triphenyl phosphate (TPP) concentrations were highest in the truck cabin and office areas, and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCPP) was highest in truck cabins. Thirteen of 16 PAHs and nine of 36 OPFRs were detected in all the SWBs worn by firefighters, and tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) was the predominant OPFR. Levels of LMW PAHs were significantly lower when firefighters did not enter the fire. LMW PAHs, HMW (high molecular weight) PAHs, and EHDPP were significantly elevated when heavy smoke was reported. This work highlights the potential for occupational exposure to PAHs and flame retardants in some fire station areas; moreover, factors that may influence exposure during fire suppression. Whilst firefighters' occupational exposure to PAHs is likely related to fire suppression and exposure to contaminated gear and trucks, exposure to OPFRs may be more related to their presence in truck interiors and electronics.

The correlation between job stress, burnout, and cognitive performance in Iranian firefighters: A cross-sectional study.

Appropriate cognitive performance is vital for a firefighter, but many occupational factors can negatively affect it. This study assessed the correlation between job stress, burnout, and cognitive performance in firefighters. This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in three fire stations in Iran in 2023 with 61 participants, including 34 firefighters in the exposed group and 27 office workers in the control group. After ensuring the confidentiality of the obtained information and completing the demographic information checklist, Job stress and burnout levels were measured using standardized questionnaires, and cognitive functions were assessed using two computerized tests: Stroop and continuous performance. The mean age and work experience of firefighters were 33.29±9.44 and 10.42±3.51 years, respectively. The firefighters' job stress and burnout levels were, on average, 163.12±9.18 and 88.89±4.28, respectively, significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The results of the Pearson correlation test revealed a strong correlation (r = 0.719) between job stress and burnout. Pearson correlation coefficient (r = -0.512-0.757), yielded from psychological tests, demonstrated that firefighters' job stress and burnout had moderate to strong associations with certain indicators of Stroop and continuous performance tests. According to the obtained results, it is recommended to take fundamental measures to reduce occupational stress and burnout of firefighters as a factor affecting cognitive performance.

The Impedance of East Jakarta Road Network to Estimate Fire Station Service Areas

Urban fires, prevalent in densely populated areas, pose significant risks by increasing deaths and injuries. Fire departments must navigate challenging access routes to manage these incidents effectively. This study analyzes the service coverage of fire stations in East Jakarta, considering road network, width, speed, and travel time. The study utilizes secondary data from the DKI Jakarta Provincial Fire and Rescue Service, road network data from local government sources, and traffic data from Google Maps. Additionally, a field survey was conducted to validate road conditions and accessibility. Using graph theory-based network analysis, the study assesses connectivity, flows, directions, and destinations to determine the coverage extent. The optimal route, defined by road class, width, and condition, exhibits the lowest impedance. Google Maps’ estimated travel times, incorporating traffic conditions, are used to assess travel times, with a 5-minute travel time set as the standard barrier for coverage. Results reveal that the current service coverage of East Jakarta fire stations is only 66.57%. This disparity indicates an inadequate number of fire stations relative to their required service areas. The findings underscore the need for strategic placement of additional fire stations and potential improvements in road infrastructure to enhance response times. Traffic dynamics often affect travel times, demonstrating that shorter distances do not always result in faster arrivals according to real-time data.

Effectiveness of regional risk mitigation policies in equitably improving connectivity to essential service during hurricane-induced floods

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of regional disaster mitigation policies in providing equitable access to essential services during hurricane-induced floods in Southeast Louisiana. Studies have been conducted on access to essential service facilities during and after disasters. However, there is limited research on whether current regional disaster mitigation plans ensure equitable access to emergency facilities. To this end, a methodology was developed to assess the effect of the 2017 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan developed by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Agency (CPRA) on equity in connectivity to essential service facilities (hospitals and fire stations) in a case study region in southeastern Louisiana. First, a graph-based model was used to represent the road network and determine the connectivity of five demographic groups during hurricane-induced flood scenarios. Herein, a hurricane-induced flood scenario with a low return period (50 years) was chosen for future years up to 2065, considering sea level rise and subsidence. Roads with flood depths exceeding 30 cm were considered impassable and were removed from the network. Connectivity was then determined using breadth-first search. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to propagate uncertainties in flood depths. It was found that minority groups were at a higher risk of losing access to emergency services during the selected hazard scenario. Native American and Asian populations were found to be at the highest risk of disconnection, followed by the Hispanic and African-American populations. Overall, the coastal master plan did not affect the equity (or lack thereof) in connectivity to essential service facilities.

Application of Gradient Descent Optimization in Optimal Location Selection for Fire Stations in Newly Built Cities

Application of Gradient Descent Optimization in Optimal Location Selection for Fire Stations in Newly Built Cities