Arborlook
Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Department

VOLUNTEER ID 1 Stations
2,608
Est. Population
0.8
Sq Miles
3,074
Density / Sq Mi
1
Census Tracts
Relatively 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 79.8 (Relatively High nationally), avalanche is your leading natural hazard. Coordinate with regional avalanche centers, establish backcountry rescue protocols, and maintain technical rescue readiness for snow burial scenarios.

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
Avalanche TOP LIFE-SAFETY HAZARD 79.8 Relatively High $913K/yr $913K/yr
Heat Wave 32 Relatively Low $22K/yr $22K/yr
Wildfire 98.6 Very High $22K/yr $735K/yr
Landslide 98.1 Very High $13K/yr $13K/yr
Lightning 52.1 Relatively Moderate $12K/yr $12K/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 11 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2024-06-10FloodSEVERE STORM, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2020-04-09BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020-03-13BiologicalCOVID-19
2019-06-12FloodSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
2017-05-18FloodSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, 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
3.4% (89)
Ages 5-17
17.7% (462)
Ages 18-64
63.3% (1,650)
Ages 65-74
10.4% (271)
Ages 75-84
3.8% (98)
Ages 85+
1.5% (38)
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
15.1% 14.9% 13.4% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
10.1% 13.3% 12.5% slightly lower
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
13.8% 8.4% 8.3% 1.6x higher
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
0.0% 0.2% 4.3% Infx lower
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
1.7% 3.6% 8.7% 2.1x lower
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
15.6% 11.1% 6.7% slightly higher

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$80,906
Peers: $65,501 · National: $89,476
Per Capita Income
$32,157
Peers: $35,535 · National: $44,519
Median Home Value
$242,100
Peers: $236,700 · National: $402,761

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 26.3% of households use wood as primary heating fuel. Prioritize public education on heating safety, chimney inspections, and proper clearance around wood stoves and fireplaces. Partner with code enforcement on rental property inspections during heating season.

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
63.3% 48.3% 36.3% slightly higher
Wood Heating
Wood stoves and fireplaces as primary heat
26.3% 8.5% 1.4% 3.1x higher
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
18.3% 24.2% 10.3% slightly lower
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
7.0% 14.2% 5.8% 2.0x lower
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
22.5% 25.4% 34.7% ≈ 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: Economic barriers to healthcare access (poverty: 10.1%, uninsured: 13.8%) 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
15.6% 23.6% 17.4% 1.5x lower
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
15.1% 14.9% 13.4% ≈ average
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
1.7% 3.6% 8.7% 2.1x lower
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
13.8% 8.4% 8.3% 1.6x higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
10.1% 13.3% 12.5% slightly 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
Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Department (You) ID 2,608 78.1 15.6% 10.1% 1
Fromberg Rural Fire District #3 MT 1,786 75.2 20.6% 11.7% 1
Genesee City Fire Department ID 3,332 72.7 22.1% 9.0% 0
Baker Volunteer Fire Department MT 2,760 90.7 22.2% 11.4% 1
White Sulphur Springs Volunteer Fire Department MT 2,007 80.5 34.7% 12.4% 1

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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