Arborlook
Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Paradise Valley Fire Service Area

VOLUNTEER MT 1 Stations
6,344
Est. Population
1863.0
Sq Miles
3
Density / Sq Mi
2
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 99.1 (Very 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 99.1 Very High $23.1M/yr $23.1M/yr
Cold Wave 86.2 Very High $632K/yr $654K/yr
Landslide 99.6 Very High $230K/yr $252K/yr
Lightning 94.4 Very High $138K/yr $138K/yr
Winter Weather 97.7 Very High $91K/yr $92K/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 6 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 9 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2023-08-12FloodFLOODING
2022-06-16FloodSEVERE STORM AND FLOODING
2020-03-31BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020-03-13BiologicalCOVID-19
2019-05-24FloodFLOODING

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
2.1% (136)
Ages 5-17
14.9% (945)
Ages 18-64
56.0% (3,554)
Ages 65-74
17.1% (1,083)
Ages 75-84
8.8% (557)
Ages 85+
1.1% (69)
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
11.5% 17.6% 13.4% 1.5x lower
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
11.2% 10.2% 12.5% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
8.6% 9.3% 8.3% ≈ average
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
1.8% 0.5% 4.3% 3.4x higher
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
3.0% 2.8% 8.7% ≈ average
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
7.9% 7.4% 6.7% ≈ average

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$89,049
Peers: $76,074 · National: $89,476
Per Capita Income
$54,223
Peers: $41,290 · National: $44,519
Median Home Value
$659,568
Peers: $405,042 · National: $402,761

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 24.5% of housing units are vacant, 2.4x 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
27.8% 22.6% 36.3% slightly higher
Wood Heating
Wood stoves and fireplaces as primary heat
14.8% 18.6% 1.4% slightly lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
24.5% 25.1% 10.3% ≈ average
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
9.5% 11.5% 5.8% slightly lower
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
24.5% 18.0% 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: 26.9% of residents are over 65. Older populations typically have higher EMS utilization rates. Consider community paramedicine programs for wellness checks, medication management support, and fall prevention education.

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
26.9% 27.2% 17.4% ≈ average
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
11.5% 17.6% 13.4% 1.5x lower
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
3.0% 2.8% 8.7% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
8.6% 9.3% 8.3% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
11.2% 10.2% 12.5% ≈ average

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
Paradise Valley Fire Service Area (You) MT 6,344 99.7 26.9% 11.2% 1
Lima Rural Volunteer Fire Department MT 5,407 97.2 28.2% 11.9% 1
Park County Rural Fire District #1 MT 6,789 93.3 24.1% 10.7% 3
Rio Blanco Fire Protection District CO 6,544 96.1 17.5% 8.5% 1
Red Lodge Rural Fire District #7 MT 5,894 93.5 29.0% 7.8% 6

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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