Arborlook
Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Rural Metro Fire Department

COMBINATION OR 17 Stations
74,453
Population
338.3
Sq Miles
220
Density / Sq Mi
18
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 89.9 (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
    89.9 Risk Score Very High
  • Earthquake
    87.1 Risk Score Very High
  • River Flood
    87.1 Risk Score Very High
  • Heat Wave
    84.5 Risk Score Very High
  • Winter Weather
    80.8 Risk Score Very 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 19 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 35 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2025-07-22Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2025-06-18FireUPPER APPLEGATE ROAD FIRE
2020-09-15FireWILDFIRES AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
2020-09-10FireSLATER FIRE
2020-09-10FireWILDFIRES

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
4.5% (3,378)
Ages 5-17
14.6% (10,896)
Ages 18-64
54.0% (40,234)
Ages 65-74
14.9% (11,125)
Ages 75-84
8.8% (6,570)
Ages 85+
3.0% (2,250)
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
20.0% 13.7% 13.4% slightly higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
14.4% 10.0% 12.4% slightly higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
6.1% 6.3% 8.2% ≈ average
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
0.9% 3.9% 4.2% 4.1x lower
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
5.4% 4.0% 8.5% slightly higher
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
6.0% 4.9% 6.6% slightly higher

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$65,973
Peers: $99,638 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$36,177
Peers: $44,787 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$414,625
Peers: $621,285 · 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
43.8% 23.9% 36.0% 1.8x higher
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
11.9% 6.2% 5.7% 1.9x higher
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
5.6% 8.9% 10.3% 1.6x lower
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
11.7% 8.1% 5.8% slightly higher
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
30.3% 28.0% 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: 20.0% 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
26.8% 19.8% 17.4% slightly higher
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
20.0% 13.7% 13.4% slightly higher
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
5.4% 4.0% 8.5% slightly higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
6.1% 6.3% 8.2% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
14.4% 10.0% 12.4% slightly 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.

1
Hospitals
26
Schools (K-12)
30
Childcare Centers
28
Nursing Homes
85
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
Rural Metro Fire Department (You) OR 74,453 80.5 26.8% 14.4% 17
South Lane County Fire & Rescue OR 41,020 84.5 22.5% 10.4% 7
Santa Cruz County Fire Department CA 71,590 91.2 20.5% 9.9% 1
McMinnville Fire District OR 41,851 74.9 20.3% 15.2% 6
North County Fire Protection District Of Monterey County CA 42,295 71.1 17.4% 10.4% 6

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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