Arborlook
Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Cincinnati Fire Department

CAREER OH 26 Stations
339,981
Population
79.5
Sq Miles
4,275
Density / Sq Mi
113
Census Tracts
Relatively Low
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 76.7 (Relatively High nationally), heat wave is your leading natural hazard. Partner with community facilities for cooling centers, develop wellness check protocols for vulnerable populations, and ensure personnel are trained on heat illness recognition and treatment.

Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area

  • Heat Wave
    76.7 Risk Score Relatively High
  • Tornado
    75.6 Risk Score Relatively High
  • Landslide
    69.7 Risk Score Relatively High
  • Cold Wave
    58.7 Risk Score Relatively Moderate
  • Hail
    52 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 23 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 47 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2026-01-24Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
2025-04-24Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2025-04-03Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
2025-02-16Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES
2020-03-31BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC

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
6.3% (21,419)
Ages 5-17
14.8% (50,485)
Ages 18-64
65.2% (221,784)
Ages 65-74
8.5% (28,970)
Ages 75-84
3.5% (11,862)
Ages 85+
1.6% (5,461)
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
13.9% 13.3% 13.4% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
24.0% 15.5% 12.4% 1.5x higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
7.5% 7.0% 8.2% ≈ average
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
2.5% 3.7% 4.2% slightly lower
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
16.0% 9.0% 8.5% 1.8x higher
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
7.0% 6.2% 6.6% ≈ average

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$63,053
Peers: $86,449 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$41,729
Peers: $42,487 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$246,218
Peers: $259,742 · National: $402,984

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 57.0% 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
77.8% 47.4% 36.0% 1.6x higher
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
0.4% 0.3% 5.7% 1.7x higher
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
9.5% 7.4% 10.3% slightly higher
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
0.3% 1.2% 5.8% 3.8x lower
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
57.0% 38.1% 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: 16.0% 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
13.6% 15.1% 17.4% ≈ average
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
13.9% 13.3% 13.4% ≈ average
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
16.0% 9.0% 8.5% 1.8x higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
7.5% 7.0% 8.2% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
24.0% 15.5% 12.4% 1.5x 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.

19
Hospitals
123
Schools (K-12)
214
Childcare Centers
91
Nursing Homes
447
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
Cincinnati Fire Department (You) OH 339,981 28.9 13.6% 24.0% 26
Toledo Fire Department OH 267,040 16 15.2% 24.2% 20
Akron Fire Department OH 196,354 22 16.3% 22.8% 13
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Fire-Rescue Department OH 331,102 19.8 15.1% 30.8% 1
Lansing Fire Department MI 173,754 28.8 15.3% 16.9% 10

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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