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 83 (Very High nationally), landslide is your leading natural hazard. Work with emergency management to map high-risk slopes, establish technical rescue protocols, and coordinate with public works on monitoring and response during heavy rain events.
Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area
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Landslide
83 Risk Score Very High
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Ice Storm
80.3 Risk Score Very High
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Hurricane
78.9 Risk Score Relatively High
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Strong Wind
55.4 Risk Score Relatively Moderate
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Cold Wave
53.3 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 5 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 24 declarations in the last 25 years.
| Date | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-15 | Flood | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING |
| 2023-09-15 | Hurricane | HURRICANE LEE |
| 2020-03-27 | Biological | COVID-19 PANDEMIC |
| 2020-03-13 | Biological | COVID-19 |
| 2018-07-19 | Snowstorm | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM |
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.
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 |
19.2% | 10.9% | 13.4% | 1.8x higher |
| Poverty Rate Economic barrier to safety resources |
13.7% | 5.5% | 12.4% | 2.5x higher |
| Uninsured Rate May delay medical care, leading to emergencies |
2.8% | 1.7% | 8.2% | 1.6x higher |
| Limited English Households Language barrier to emergency communication |
1.9% | 2.3% | 4.2% | slightly lower |
| No Vehicle Access Transport-dependent for evacuation |
11.1% | 4.1% | 8.5% | 2.7x higher |
| No Internet Access Disconnected from digital emergency alerts |
7.2% | 3.5% | 6.6% | 2.0x higher |
Economic Context
Fire Risk Factors
What this means for planning: 53.2% 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 |
73.4% | 47.5% | 36.0% | 1.5x higher |
| High-Risk Heating Wood, fuel oil, coal |
53.2% | 33.5% | 5.7% | 1.6x higher |
| Vacancy Rate Vacant properties at higher fire risk |
5.8% | 4.7% | 10.3% | slightly higher |
| Mobile Homes Structural fire spread risk |
1.1% | 1.0% | 5.8% | slightly higher |
| Renter-Occupied Higher turnover, variable maintenance |
41.1% | 20.5% | 34.4% | 2.0x 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: 19.2% of residents have a disability — slightly 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 |
19.6% | 19.1% | 17.4% | ≈ average |
| Disability Rate Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs |
19.2% | 10.9% | 13.4% | 1.8x higher |
| No Vehicle Access Transport-dependent for medical access |
11.1% | 4.1% | 8.5% | 2.7x higher |
| Uninsured Rate May delay care, leading to emergencies |
2.8% | 1.7% | 8.2% | 1.6x higher |
| Poverty Rate Economic barrier to healthcare access |
13.7% | 5.5% | 12.4% | 2.5x higher |
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner Fire Department (You) | MA | 21,148 | 16.5 | 19.6% | 13.7% | 2 |
| Wayland Fire Department | MA | 13,950 | 15 | 18.6% | 5.0% | 4 |
| Northampton Fire Rescue | MA | 30,962 | 30.9 | 20.4% | 13.4% | 2 |
| Town Of Sharon Fire Department | MA | 18,574 | 16.4 | 17.6% | 3.8% | 2 |
| Foxborough Fire & Rescue | MA | 18,615 | 16.5 | 17.2% | 5.7% | 1 |
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