Arborlook
Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Fountain Area Fire Department

VOLUNTEER MI 1 Stations
16,823
Est. Population
77.6
Sq Miles
217
Density / Sq Mi
5
Census Tracts
Relatively Low
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 63.3 (Relatively High nationally), cold wave is your leading natural hazard. Focus on cold-exposure emergency response, warming center partnerships, and proactive wellness checks for vulnerable populations during extreme cold events.

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
Cold Wave TOP LIFE-SAFETY HAZARD 63.3 Relatively High $331K/yr $346K/yr
Winter Weather 98.9 Very High $256K/yr $262K/yr
Strong Wind 90 Very High $117K/yr $494K/yr
Tornado 45.6 Relatively Moderate $95K/yr $207K/yr
Heat Wave 27.3 Relatively Low $74K/yr $75K/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 4 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 8 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2020-03-27BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020-03-13BiologicalCOVID-19
2008-07-14Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
2005-09-07HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
1998-06-24Severe StormSEVERE STORMS

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
3.7% (622)
Ages 5-17
14.1% (2,373)
Ages 18-64
56.4% (9,485)
Ages 65-74
16.2% (2,730)
Ages 75-84
7.8% (1,310)
Ages 85+
1.8% (303)
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
19.0% 15.8% 13.4% slightly higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
13.0% 11.1% 12.5% slightly higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
6.5% 5.7% 8.3% ≈ average
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
0.0% 0.4% 4.3% 15.0x lower
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
5.1% 3.7% 8.7% slightly higher
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
12.1% 8.3% 6.7% slightly higher

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$61,674
Peers: $74,102 · National: $89,476
Per Capita Income
$35,232
Peers: $38,625 · National: $44,519
Median Home Value
$193,200
Peers: $219,753 · National: $402,761

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 41.9% of housing units are vacant, 4.1x higher the national average. Vacant properties have elevated fire risk due to lack of maintenance, unauthorized access, and delayed detection. Work with code enforcement on vacant property inspections and securing abandoned structures.

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
48.3% 34.4% 36.3% slightly higher
Wood Heating
Wood stoves and fireplaces as primary heat
13.8% 6.3% 1.4% 2.2x higher
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
41.9% 15.5% 10.3% 2.7x higher
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
17.2% 12.0% 5.8% slightly higher
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
14.9% 17.5% 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: 19.0% 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
25.8% 20.9% 17.4% slightly higher
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
19.0% 15.8% 13.4% slightly higher
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
5.1% 3.7% 8.7% slightly higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
6.5% 5.7% 8.3% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
13.0% 11.1% 12.5% slightly 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
Fountain Area Fire Department (You) MI 16,823 39.4 25.8% 13.0% 1
Richland Area Fire Department OH 20,596 38.3 20.7% 14.2% 2
Lincoln Township Fire And Rescue MI 15,042 40.3 21.7% 17.0% 1
Wayne Township-Duncan Falls Volunteer Fire Department OH 16,657 45 19.0% 12.0% 0
Green Township Volunteer Fire Department OH 11,735 41.1 20.4% 13.6% 2

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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