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Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Paradise Valley Fire Service Area

VOLUNTEER MT 1 Stations
19,591
Population
1863.0
Sq Miles
11
Density / Sq Mi
5
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 98.4 (Very High nationally), winter weather is your leading natural hazard. Prepare for snow and ice incidents, cold-exposure emergencies, and coordination with public works on emergency access. Establish warming center partnerships for vulnerable populations.

Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area

  • Winter Weather
    98.4 Risk Score Very High
  • Lightning
    96.6 Risk Score Very High
  • Wildfire
    95.1 Risk Score Very High
  • Cold Wave
    93.6 Risk Score Very High
  • River Flood
    91.2 Risk Score Very High

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 27 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 44 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2023-10-11FloodFLOODING
2023-08-12FloodFLOODING
2022-06-16FloodSEVERE STORM AND FLOODING
2021-06-16FireROBERTSON DRAW FIRE
2020-09-05FireBRIDGER FOOTHILLS FIRE

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% (928)
Ages 5-17
13.1% (2,561)
Ages 18-64
58.4% (11,437)
Ages 65-74
14.7% (2,876)
Ages 75-84
6.5% (1,275)
Ages 85+
2.6% (514)
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
13.8% 13.8% 13.4% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
11.4% 12.2% 12.4% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
8.6% 10.1% 8.2% slightly lower
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
0.6% 1.7% 4.2% 2.8x lower
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
3.3% 4.3% 8.5% slightly lower
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
6.2% 7.3% 6.6% slightly lower

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$74,200
Peers: $82,445 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$45,704
Peers: $40,050 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$469,788
Peers: $416,114 · National: $402,984

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 13.9% of housing units are vacant — slightly 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
49.7% 29.2% 36.0% 1.7x higher
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
9.1% 7.8% 5.7% slightly higher
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
13.9% 13.4% 10.3% ≈ average
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
7.4% 11.1% 5.8% 1.5x lower
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
29.5% 25.2% 34.4% 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: 23.8% 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
23.8% 19.4% 17.4% slightly higher
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
13.8% 13.8% 13.4% ≈ average
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
3.3% 4.3% 8.5% slightly lower
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
8.6% 10.1% 8.2% slightly lower
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
11.4% 12.2% 12.4% ≈ average

Critical Infrastructure Protected

Hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and childcare centers require pre-incident plans and specialized evacuation protocols. These counts go directly into AFG/SAFER grant narratives and CPSE/CFAI Standards of Cover documentation.

1
Hospitals
8
Schools (K-12)
0
Childcare Centers
0
Nursing Homes
9
Total Facilities

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 19,591 92.8 23.8% 11.4% 1
Red Lodge Rural Fire District #7 MT 10,347 92.1 23.3% 13.0% 6
Soda Springs Fire Department ID 17,653 92.3 15.2% 8.6% 1
Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Department CO 17,142 89.3 17.3% 10.2% 1
North Bench Volunteer Fire District, Inc. ID 13,172 94.7 23.5% 13.6% 3

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.

See the Response Dashboard

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