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Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

El Centro Fire Department

CAREER CA 5 Stations
40,107
Est. Population
10.2
Sq Miles
3,931
Density / Sq Mi
11
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 98.3 (Very High nationally), earthquake is your leading natural hazard. Prioritize heavy rescue capabilities, building collapse protocols, and mutual aid for large-scale events. Coordinate with emergency management on critical facility assessments and community seismic preparedness.

Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area

Sorted by life-safety impact. Life-safety loss uses FEMA’s Value of Statistical Life ($13.7M per fatality or 10 injuries). NRI methodology

Hazard Risk Score Rating Life-Safety Loss
$/yr
Total Loss
$/yr
Earthquake TOP LIFE-SAFETY HAZARD 98.3 Very High $10.3M/yr $30.7M/yr
Heat Wave 70.3 Relatively High $435K/yr $508K/yr
Strong Wind 37.5 Relatively Low $25K/yr $71K/yr
River Flood 73 Relatively High $18K/yr $7.0M/yr
Lightning 7.4 Very Low $7K/yr $7K/yr

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 9 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2023-11-21HurricaneTROPICAL STORM HILARY
2023-04-03Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2023-03-10FloodSEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2020-03-22BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020-03-13BiologicalCOVID-19

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% (2,525)
Ages 5-17
21.3% (8,547)
Ages 18-64
58.5% (23,445)
Ages 65-74
7.7% (3,073)
Ages 75-84
4.3% (1,737)
Ages 85+
1.9% (780)
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
16.3% 12.0% 13.4% slightly higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
21.1% 9.3% 12.5% 2.3x higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
5.2% 5.0% 8.3% ≈ average
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
21.7% 7.8% 4.3% 2.8x higher
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
6.7% 5.4% 8.7% slightly higher
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
5.7% 4.0% 6.7% slightly higher

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$60,777
Peers: $121,872 · National: $89,476
Per Capita Income
$22,138
Peers: $57,402 · National: $44,519
Median Home Value
$280,042
Peers: $892,304 · National: $402,761

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 52.4% 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
49.7% 31.6% 36.3% 1.6x higher
Wood Heating
Wood stoves and fireplaces as primary heat
0.1% 1.4% 1.4% 23.1x lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
11.7% 7.2% 10.3% 1.6x higher
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
8.5% 4.8% 5.8% 1.8x higher
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
52.4% 37.7% 34.7% 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: Economic barriers to healthcare access (poverty: 21.1%, uninsured: 5.2%) can lead to delayed treatment and preventable emergencies. Partner with federally qualified health centers and social services to connect vulnerable residents with primary care resources.

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
13.9% 16.8% 17.4% slightly lower
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
16.3% 12.0% 13.4% slightly higher
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
6.7% 5.4% 8.7% slightly higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
5.2% 5.0% 8.3% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
21.1% 9.3% 12.5% 2.3x higher

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
El Centro Fire Department (You) CA 40,107 94 13.9% 21.1% 5
Calexico Fire Department CA 34,497 84.5 16.6% 20.3% 2
Gilroy Fire Department CA 49,215 89.2 13.7% 7.5% 8
Olympia Fire Department WA 53,134 85.9 20.3% 12.7% 4
Fairbanks Fire Department AK 42,631 91 12.6% 6.7% 4

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.

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