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Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Mendocino Volunteer Fire Department

VOLUNTEER CA 3 Stations
5,578
Population
23.8
Sq Miles
234
Density / Sq Mi
2
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 96.2 (Very High nationally), wildfire is your leading natural hazard. Prioritize structure protection, evacuation route planning, and coordination with forestry agencies. Focus on defensible space enforcement, pre-positioning during red flag warnings, and community evacuation drills.

Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area

  • Wildfire
    96.2 Risk Score Very High
  • Earthquake
    95.9 Risk Score Very High
  • Landslide
    95.5 Risk Score Very High
  • Coastal Flood
    84.3 Risk Score Very High
  • River Flood
    75.7 Risk Score Relatively High

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 18 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2023-04-03Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2023-03-10FloodSEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2023-01-14FloodSEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2023-01-09FloodSEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, AND MUDSLIDES
2020-10-16FireWILDFIRES

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
0.5% (28)
Ages 5-17
11.0% (611)
Ages 18-64
46.6% (2,600)
Ages 65-74
28.8% (1,605)
Ages 75-84
10.6% (593)
Ages 85+
2.5% (141)
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
24.5% 16.3% 13.4% 1.5x higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
8.1% 8.4% 12.4% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
2.3% 6.1% 8.2% 2.7x lower
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
0.5% 2.2% 4.2% 4.4x lower
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
1.1% 4.3% 8.5% 4.1x lower
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
4.5% 7.0% 6.6% 1.5x lower

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$67,911
Peers: $82,190 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$48,096
Peers: $44,272 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$593,527
Peers: $537,138 · National: $402,984

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 39.0% of households use high-risk heating fuels (wood, fuel oil, coal). Prioritize public education on heating safety, chimney inspections, proper fuel storage, and clearance around heating equipment. Partner with code enforcement on rental property inspections during heating season.

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
49.1% 29.7% 36.0% 1.7x higher
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
39.0% 22.8% 5.7% 1.7x higher
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
17.5% 16.4% 10.3% ≈ average
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
5.5% 11.9% 5.8% 2.2x lower
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
22.4% 24.7% 34.4% ≈ average

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: 24.5% of residents have a disability — 1.8x higher the national average. Residents with disabilities have higher EMS utilization and may require specialized evacuation assistance, accessible communication during emergencies, and coordination with social services. Consider functional needs assessments in pre-incident planning and partnerships with disability advocacy organizations.

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
41.9% 25.2% 17.4% 1.7x higher
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
24.5% 16.3% 13.4% 1.5x higher
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
1.1% 4.3% 8.5% 4.1x lower
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
2.3% 6.1% 8.2% 2.7x lower
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
8.1% 8.4% 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.

0
Hospitals
4
Schools (K-12)
2
Childcare Centers
0
Nursing Homes
6
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
Mendocino Volunteer Fire Department (You) CA 5,578 87.1 41.9% 8.1% 3
Fieldbrook Volunteer Fire Department CA 2,936 87.2 31.8% 10.6% 1
Hamlet Volunteer Fire Department OR 4,565 99.7 31.7% 7.3% 1
Skamania County Fire District 2 WA 7,312 81.1 23.9% 7.0% 1
Loma Rica/Browns Valley Csd CA 6,728 89 31.6% 8.6% 3

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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