Tfrv7i4 Fire Department Overall Run Profile
Topical Fire reporT SerieS
Volume 7, Issue 4 / December 2007
Fire Department Overall Run Profile
These short topical reports are designed to Findings:
explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as
depicted through data collected in USFA’s
■ Less than 10% of fire department runs are fires.
National Fire Incident Reporting System
■ Over half of calls to fire departments require emergency medical service.
(NFIRS). Each topical report briefly addresses
the nature of the specific fire or fire-related
■ Approximately 11% of runs involve mutual or automatic aid.
topic, highlights important findings from
the data, and may suggest other resources
■ Wireless telecommunication technologies create challenges for emer-
to consider for further information.
gency dispatchers.
Fire departments provide invaluable services to communi- activity as reflected in the National Fire Incident Reporting
ties nationwide. They respond to all types of emergency
System (NFIRS) 2004 data.1,2
situations involving fires, explosions, rescues and medical
While “fire” is part of the department name, less than 10%
emergencies, hazardous conditions, natural disasters, and
of runs made by fire departments actually involve fire, as
false alarms. They also respond to nonemergency service calls
shown in Figure 1. Over half (55%) of all fire department
and good intent calls. Often what is described to dispatchers
runs are categorized as emergency medical services (EMS)
does not reflect the actual incident; nevertheless, fire depart-
and rescue. False alarms (12%) and good intent calls (10%)
ments are trained and prepared to respond to a broad array of
are the second and third most prevalent runs; actual fire
situations. To understand the full role fire departments play in
runs are fourth at 8%.
a community, this topical report profiles fire department run
continued on next page
Figure 1. Fire Department Overall Runs by Incident Type
(percent of runs, 2004)
Source: 2004 NFIRS 5.0 data
U.S. Department of Homeland Security • U.S. Fire Administration
National Fire Data Center • Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727
www.usfa.dhs.gov/statistics/reports/index.shtm
TFRS Volume 7, Issue 4/ Fire Department Overall Fire Run Profile
Page 2
Emergency Calls
Hourly, Monthly, and Seasonal Profile
The official national emergency number is 9-1-1.
of Runs
Emergency calls are placed to Public Safety Answering Points
Fire departments respond to incidents every day, at all times
(PSAP), typically city or county controlled, where a trained
of the day. The demand for fire department services is rela-
dispatcher is ready to route the call to local emergency med-
tively constant during the late morning and early evening.
ical, fire, and police services. PSAPs determine the location
Peak demand is in the late afternoon, as shown in Figure
of calls by cross-referencing the telephone number against
2. Each type of run has its own characteristic daily profile,
a location database.3 However, new technology involving
as shown in Figure 3. All runs are lowest in the very early
wireless telephones and voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP)
morning hours and increase during the morning as activi-
services such as cell phones and Internet connections (i.e.,
ties begin. Most run types reach near-peak demand in mid-
DSL, dial, and cable modems), make determining where the
morning and remain relatively constant, with peak hours
call is coming from more complex because the call is not
occurring in mid to late afternoon until early evening. Fire
associated with a fixed location. This can delay emergency
and severe weather runs are notable exceptions. Fire runs
response times.
increase slowly but steadily during the day, peak during the
dinner hour, and then steadily decrease. Severe weather runs
In rural and remote areas, emergency calls connect directly
have below-average demand until midafternoon, increase
to local fire stations. Presently, more and more rural area res-
sharply through midevening, then decrease sharply during
idences are in the process of establishing precise addresses
the late evening hours.
for future PSAP capabilities.4
Figure 2. Fire Department Overall Runs by Time of Day
(percent of runs, 2004)
Source: 2004 NFIRS 5.0 data
continued on next page
TFRS Volume 7, Issue 4/ Fire Department Overall Fire Run Profile
Page 3
Figure 3. Fire Department Overall Runs by Time of Day
(percent of runs, 2004)
Source: 2004 NFIRS 5.0 data
The average occurrence of runs on a monthly basis is
the most prevalent fire department responses, as shown in
relatively constant. Consistent with the Fourth of July and
Figure 5.5 Although very small in number, severe weather
winter holidays, there is a slight increase in runs during
and natural disaster runs are more prevalent during the
July and December (Figure 4). Seasonally, EMS responses are
spring and summer.
Figure 4. Fire Department Overall Runs by Month
(percent of runs, 2004)
Source: 2004 NFIRS 5.0 data
continued on next page
TFRS Volume 7, Issue 4/ Fire Department Overall Fire Run Profile
Page 4
Figure 5. Seasonal Distribution of Fire Department Overall Runs
(percent of runs, 2004)
Source: 2004 NFIRS 5.0 data
Regional Fires
on EMS roles only recently. This may explain the disparity
between the percentages of EMS runs in the Northeast and
For all regions, most calls to fire departments require EMS
the rest of the Nation.7 Special incidents, such as citizen
and rescue services.6 The Western region has the highest
complaints, represent 6% of all runs in the Northeast,
percentage of EMS and rescue runs at 64%; the Northeast
which is the highest of all the regions. False alarm calls
region has the lowest percentage at 40% (Figure 6). A
also were highest in the Northeast (17%), followed by the
number of fire departments in the Northeast still limit their
Midwestern (11%) and Southern (10%) regions.
role to traditional fire suppression services and have taken
continued on next page
TFRS Volume 7, Issue 4/ Fire Department Overall Fire Run Profile
Page 5
Figure 6. Regional Distribution of Fire Department Overall Runs
(percent of runs, 2004)
Source: NFIRS 5.0 data
Property Distribution
Generally, 64% of all calls to residences require EMS and
rescue services. False alarms account for 10% of calls to resi-
Most calls involve residential properties (51%) followed
dences. Only 6% of calls to residences relate to fire.
by outside or special properties, as shown in Figure 7.
continued on next page
TFRS Volume 7, Issue 4/ Fire Department Overall Fire Run Profile
Page 6
Figure 7. Fire Department Overall Runs by Property Type
(percent of runs, 2004)
Source: 2004 NFIRS 5.0 data
Aid
jurisdictions as rural areas experience huge growth and do
not have the resources to meet the fire demands that increas-
Aid offers additional resources to fire departments for large-
ingly point toward “metropolitan risk” levels.8
scale or specialized incidents or when response time to an
incident is faster by another jurisdiction. Aid is either given or
Formal aid relationships provide better access to resources.
received, either automatically or mutually, for a specific inci-
Many local jurisdictions and States maintain exemplary aid
dent. Automatic aid involves prearranged agreements accord-
systems. The key issues facing aid agreements deal with lia-
ing to hazard conditions, jurisdictions, or incidents requiring
bility and reimbursement. Resolving these issues results in
special equipment. Mutual aid generally is requested on a
better fire services. The Emergency Management Assistance
reactive basis as resources are depleted at the incident.
Compact (EMAC) and Urban Search-and-Rescue (USAR)
teams have greatly improved the ability to overcome these
Informal and formal aid relationships vary, depending on
issues and move resources from State to State. A national aid
the location or the type of the incident. Innovative aid
and resource system initiative is in development to manage
relationships, which focus on improving the allocation of
greater threats facing the United States, including terrorism
resources and response times, continue to augment the
and natural disasters.9
advancement of fire department services. Eleven percent of
fire department runs involve giving or receiving aid, either
Types of Aid
mutual or automatic.
While about 90% of fire department runs are not aid-
Small rural areas generally follow informal agreements,
related, the level of aid runs varies with the type of inci-
where it is understood that large- scale incidents will require
dent. Fire, good-intent call, and explosion or overpressure
all available resources from several community fire depart-
rupture incidents involve aid runs more often than other
ments, and that each department sustains its own resources
types of incidents (Table 1). A more detailed analysis of aid
when providing aid. However, informal relationships in rural
relationships and resulting runs is necessary to draw defini-
areas are giving way to more formal relationships between
tive conclusions on the use and frequency of aid.
continued on next page
TFRS Volume 7, Issue 4/ Fire Department Overall Fire Run Profile
Page 7
Table 1. Fire Department Overall Runs by General Type of Aid
(percent of incidents, 2004)
Aid
Run Type
No Aid
Total
Aid Received
Aid Given
Total
Fire
9.7%
16.0%
25.7%
74.3%
100.0%
Overpressure, Rupture, Explosion, Overheat (No Fire)
7.1%
5.9%
13.0%
87.0%
100.0%
EMS and Rescue
3.3%
4.7%
8.0%
92.0%
100.0%
Hazardous Conditions
4.0%
4.4%
8.4%
91.6%
100.0%
Service Call
1.8%
9.6%
11.4%
88.6%
100.0%
Good-Intent Call
2.9%
12.2%
15.1%
84.9%
100.0%
False Alarm and False Call
4.7%
4.5%
9.2%
90.8%
100.0%
Severe Weather and Natural Disaster
4.6%
6.7%
11.3%
88.7%
100.0%
Special Incident
2.1%
2.5%
4.5%
95.5%
100.0%
OVERALL
3.9%
6.7%
10.5%
89.5%
100.0%
Source: 2004 NFIRS 5.0 data
Note: Totals may not add due to rounding
Conclusion
Internet connection, make sure to give the exact location of
the emergency to the 9-1-1 dispatcher and call back if the
When a call comes to 9-1-1 for emergency assistance, a
call is dropped or disconnected.
trained PSAP dispatcher will locate the call from a loca-
tion database and route the call to the appropriate local
Some emergencies exceed local area resources requiring
emergency medical, fire, and police services. However, new
mutual aid from other jurisdictions. Formalized aid agree-
communication technologies such as wireless telephones
ments help manage resource and fire service demand. A
and voice-over-Internet protocols make determining a call’s
national mutual aid and resource management initiative
location challenging, because the call is not associated with
stems from recent devastating incidents involving natural
a fixed location. If a call is made from a cell phone or an
disasters and terrorist acts.
To request additional information or to comment on this report, visit
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/feedback/
TFRS Volume 7, Issue 4/ Fire Department Overall Fire Run Profile
Page 8
Notes:
6 The regions of the United States are defined by the U.S. Census
Bureau as the Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
1 NFIRS 5.0 contains both converted NFIRS 4.1 data and native
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
NFIRS 5.0 data. This topical report includes only native 5.0 data.
Island, Vermont); South (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District
Incident type 110 (structure fire, other) is not included in this
of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,
analysis as it is a “conversion only” code. That is, incident type
Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee,
110 is technically a version 4.1 incident and, as such, is not
Texas, Virginia, West Virginia); Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
included in this analysis. Aid runs, usually excluded in incident-
Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota,
based analyses, are included in the data for this report.
Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin); West (Alaska, Arizona, California,
2 “Runs” or “calls” have different meanings for different fire
Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon,
departments. As NFIRS incident data reflect summary data from
Utah, Washington, Wyoming).
individual fire departments (not from individual fire stations in
7 Discussions with Dr. Harold Cohen, former EMS officer and
a fire department), a “run” or “call” as used in this topical report
current Sr. Analyst at the TriData Division of System Planning
means the fire department’s collective response to an incident.
Corporation.
“Runs” and “calls” are used interchangeably.
8 Discussions with Mr. Patrick Simpson, former Fire Chief and
3 “Communicating During Emergencies,” Federal Communications
current Sr. Analyst at the TriData Division of System Planning
Commission, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, http://
Corporation.
www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/emergencies.html
9 FEMA, “National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Initiative
4 Idaho County, “Rural Addressing,” http://www.idahocounty.org/
Frequently Asked Questions,” http://www.scd.state.hi.us/NIMS/
idaho/commissioners/rural_addressing.htm
FAQ_6_09_04.doc
5 Winter is defined as January–March; spring is defined as April–
June; summer is defined as July–September; fall is defined as
October-December.
