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Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Gem County Fire Protection District #1

COMBINATION ID 3 Stations
20,614
Population
565.7
Sq Miles
36
Density / Sq Mi
4
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 99.2 (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
    99.2 Risk Score Very High
  • Winter Weather
    92.9 Risk Score Very High
  • Strong Wind
    84.3 Risk Score Very High
  • River Flood
    80.2 Risk Score Very High
  • Volcanic
    77 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 25 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 42 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2022-08-19FireFOUR CORNERS FIRE
2020-04-09BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020-03-13BiologicalCOVID-19
2019-06-12FloodSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2017-10-07FloodFLOODING

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
4.9% (1,013)
Ages 5-17
17.0% (3,510)
Ages 18-64
55.0% (11,336)
Ages 65-74
14.0% (2,879)
Ages 75-84
7.4% (1,524)
Ages 85+
1.7% (352)
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
16.9% 13.6% 13.4% slightly higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
12.0% 10.4% 12.4% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
11.1% 9.4% 8.2% slightly higher
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
0.4% 0.9% 4.2% 2.5x lower
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
2.9% 3.1% 8.5% ≈ average
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
7.8% 6.2% 6.6% slightly higher

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$66,038
Peers: $86,948 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$33,907
Peers: $44,207 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$422,608
Peers: $489,150 · National: $402,984

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: Focus fire prevention efforts on cooking safety (leading cause of home fires), heating equipment safety, electrical hazards, and smoke alarm installation programs. Target education toward renters and multi-family buildings where fire incidence is typically higher.

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
40.8% 21.0% 36.0% 1.9x higher
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
13.5% 11.4% 5.7% slightly higher
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
3.9% 13.7% 10.3% 3.5x lower
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
12.0% 9.7% 5.8% slightly higher
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
24.0% 23.0% 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: 23.1% of residents are over 65. Older populations typically have higher EMS utilization rates. Consider community paramedicine programs for wellness checks, medication management support, and fall prevention education.

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
23.1% 20.9% 17.4% ≈ average
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
16.9% 13.6% 13.4% slightly higher
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
2.9% 3.1% 8.5% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
11.1% 9.4% 8.2% slightly higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
12.0% 10.4% 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.

1
Hospitals
12
Schools (K-12)
2
Childcare Centers
5
Nursing Homes
20
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
Gem County Fire Protection District #1 (You) ID 20,614 81.4 23.1% 12.0% 3
Polson Fire Department MT 24,366 91.9 22.2% 20.1% 2
Park County Fire District 2 WY 24,442 80.5 25.9% 7.9% 6
Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District CO 19,507 72.8 23.0% 7.5% 3
Conifer Fire Protection District CO 20,112 87.1 21.8% 4.5% 7

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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