Arborlook
Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Oakland Fire Department

CAREER CA 25 Stations
463,444
Population
64.0
Sq Miles
7,240
Density / Sq Mi
122
Census Tracts
Very High
NRI Risk Rating

Service Area Overview

Your department boundary, station locations, and overall NRI risk scores by census tract. Use the sections below to explore specific hazards, fire risk indicators, and EMS demand drivers across your service area.

Service area, population, and census tract assignments are based on department boundaries from NERIS Public. Boundary accuracy varies by jurisdiction.

Natural Hazard Risk

What this means for planning: With a risk score of 97.8 (Very High nationally), earthquake is your leading natural hazard. Prioritize heavy rescue capabilities, building collapse protocols, and mutual aid for large-scale events. Coordinate with emergency management on critical facility assessments and community seismic preparedness.

Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area

  • Earthquake
    97.8 Risk Score Very High
  • River Flood
    63.3 Risk Score Relatively High
  • Volcanic
    61.2 Risk Score Relatively High
  • Landslide
    59.4 Risk Score Relatively Moderate
  • Heat Wave
    42.4 Risk Score Relatively Moderate

How to read this map: Colors show absolute national risk levels (red = Very High nationally, green = Very Low nationally). These are objective hazard comparisons across all U.S. communities.

Historical Disaster Declarations

Your county has experienced 15 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 20 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2023-04-03Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2023-01-14FloodSEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2023-01-09FloodSEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, AND MUDSLIDES
2020-03-22BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020-03-13BiologicalCOVID-19

Demographics & Vulnerability

Why This Matters

Your community's demographics shape everything — from where you need smoke alarm programs to how many of your calls are EMS. The data below identifies who generates the most emergency demand, who faces the greatest barriers during emergencies, and who benefits most from targeted CRR outreach.

Age Distribution

Age drives EMS call volume (highest utilization: 65+ and especially 75+, with elevated rates also among children under 5), shapes fire safety education priorities, and determines evacuation assistance needs. The dark marker on each bar shows the national average.

Under 5
5.5% (25,442)
Ages 5-17
13.3% (61,790)
Ages 18-64
66.4% (307,905)
Ages 65-74
8.7% (40,167)
Ages 75-84
4.3% (19,908)
Ages 85+
1.8% (8,232)
Your Community
National Average

Social Vulnerability Indicators

These indicators identify populations that need additional support during emergencies, face barriers to self-evacuation or medical access, and benefit most from proactive CRR programming.

Vulnerability Factor Your Community Peer Average National Average vs. Peers
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, evacuation assistance needs, accessible communication requirements
12.1% 12.3% 13.4% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
13.2% 11.7% 12.4% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
5.4% 6.9% 8.2% slightly lower
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
8.5% 6.3% 4.2% slightly higher
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
15.8% 7.0% 8.5% 2.3x higher
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
6.1% 4.3% 6.6% slightly higher

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$112,922
Peers: $100,846 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$64,614
Peers: $46,046 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$928,688
Peers: $600,597 · National: $402,984

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 57.4% of housing units are renter-occupied. Rental properties often experience higher fire incidence due to transient occupancy and variable maintenance. Partner with landlords on smoke alarm compliance, tenant fire safety education, and rental property inspections.

How to read this map: Colors show relative risk within your jurisdiction (red = highest-need tracts, green = lowest-need). Check the table below for overall levels vs. peers and national averages.

Risk Factor Your Community Peer Average National Average vs. Peers
Pre-1980 Housing
Pre-1980 construction standards
73.0% 32.6% 36.0% 2.2x higher
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
0.4% 1.2% 5.7% 3.2x lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
7.8% 4.7% 10.3% 1.7x higher
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
0.6% 2.8% 5.8% 4.9x lower
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
57.4% 44.1% 34.4% slightly higher

EMS Risk Factors

EMS typically accounts for 60-80% of fire department call volume nationally. The demographics below are the strongest predictors of where that demand comes from in your service area.

What this means for planning: 15.8% of households lack vehicle access — 1.9x higher the national average. High rates of transport dependence correlate with increased EMS demand. Consider community paramedicine programs, partnerships with social services and Medicaid transport providers, and advocacy for non-emergency medical transport alternatives.

How to read this map: Colors show relative risk within your jurisdiction (red = highest-need tracts, green = lowest-need). Check the table below for overall levels vs. peers and national averages.

Risk Factor Your Community Peer Average National Average vs. Peers
Population 65+
Highest EMS utilization group
14.7% 13.8% 17.4% ≈ average
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
12.1% 12.3% 13.4% ≈ average
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
15.8% 7.0% 8.5% 2.3x higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
5.4% 6.9% 8.2% slightly lower
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
13.2% 11.7% 12.4% ≈ average

Critical Infrastructure Protected

Hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and childcare centers require pre-incident plans and specialized evacuation protocols. These counts go directly into AFG/SAFER grant narratives and CPSE/CFAI Standards of Cover documentation.

7
Hospitals
170
Schools (K-12)
211
Childcare Centers
48
Nursing Homes
436
Total Facilities

Peer Comparison

Departments similar to yours in size, type, density class, and region. Peer benchmarks contextualize your community risk profile and support “demonstrated need” narratives in grant applications.

Department State Population Risk Score 65+ % Poverty % Stations
Oakland Fire Department (You) CA 463,444 89.9 14.7% 13.2% 25
Long Beach Fire Department CA 469,423 74.9 13.3% 14.5% 24
Anaheim Fire & Rescue CA 347,843 77.3 13.1% 12.4% 36
University Of California Riverside CA 318,700 80 11.8% 12.3% 1
Seattle Fire Department WA 687,548 67.4 12.4% 10.0% 73

Your Community Risk Profile Is Half the Story

This page shows what your community faces. Connecting your NERIS data shows the other half — where response is slowest in your highest-risk areas, whether you're meeting NFPA benchmarks, and how your CRR investments are performing against actual demand.

See the Response Dashboard

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