Arborlook
Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Santa Margarita Fire Department

VOLUNTEER CA 1 Stations
6,249
Est. Population
0.5
Sq Miles
13,092
Density / Sq Mi
1
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 99.5 (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

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
Wildfire TOP LIFE-SAFETY HAZARD 99.5 Very High $131K/yr $1.9M/yr
Earthquake 87.4 Very High $87K/yr $577K/yr
Landslide 99.6 Very High $60K/yr $86K/yr
Heat Wave 61.2 Relatively High $47K/yr $50K/yr
River Flood 98.2 Very High $6K/yr $2.8M/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 11 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 16 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2024-04-13Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS, TORNADOES, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2023-04-03Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2023-03-10FloodSEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2023-01-14FloodSEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2023-01-09FloodSEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, AND MUDSLIDES

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
4.7% (294)
Ages 5-17
14.2% (886)
Ages 18-64
52.2% (3,261)
Ages 65-74
16.4% (1,024)
Ages 75-84
7.4% (461)
Ages 85+
5.2% (323)
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
18.6% 16.5% 13.4% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
5.9% 11.5% 12.5% 1.9x lower
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
2.1% 6.6% 8.3% 3.2x lower
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
0.7% 0.9% 4.3% slightly lower
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
8.1% 3.9% 8.7% 2.1x higher
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
12.3% 8.1% 6.7% 1.5x higher

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$98,549
Peers: $79,663 · National: $89,476
Per Capita Income
$66,479
Peers: $42,062 · National: $44,519
Median Home Value
$853,700
Peers: $426,244 · National: $402,761

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 16.9% of housing units are mobile homes. Manufactured housing presents unique fire risks including rapid fire spread, limited egress, and structural collapse potential. Focus on smoke alarm installation programs, escape planning education, and pre-fire planning for mobile home communities.

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
32.0% 27.2% 36.3% slightly higher
Wood Heating
Wood stoves and fireplaces as primary heat
7.5% 21.5% 1.4% 2.9x lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
4.8% 19.3% 10.3% 4.0x lower
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
16.9% 12.1% 5.8% slightly higher
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
24.3% 20.1% 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: 18.6% 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
28.9% 24.4% 17.4% slightly higher
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
18.6% 16.5% 13.4% ≈ average
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
8.1% 3.9% 8.7% 2.1x higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
2.1% 6.6% 8.3% 3.2x lower
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
5.9% 11.5% 12.5% 1.9x lower

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
Santa Margarita Fire Department (You) CA 6,249 97.1 28.9% 5.9% 1
Bucoda Volunteer Fire Department WA 4,521 95.4 21.0% 13.1% 1
Colfax Fire Department CA 6,327 99.5 25.7% 9.5% 2
City Of Bingen Fire Department WA 5,914 98 17.8% 11.7% 1
Northport Fire Department WA 4,546 82.2 28.0% 12.4% 0

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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