Arborlook
Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Fentress County Fire Department

VOLUNTEER TN 10 Stations
27,155
Est. Population
489.4
Sq Miles
55
Density / Sq Mi
8
Census Tracts
Relatively Moderate
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 92 (Very 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 92 Very High $2.0M/yr $2.1M/yr
Lightning 97.8 Very High $1.3M/yr $1.3M/yr
Tornado 74.8 Relatively High $600K/yr $1.1M/yr
Strong Wind 90.8 Very High $328K/yr $595K/yr
Earthquake 66.7 Relatively High $111K/yr $407K/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 25 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 46 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2026-02-06Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
2026-01-24Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
2025-04-02Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
2023-05-17Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND TORNADO
2021-05-08TornadoSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING

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
5.9% (1,608)
Ages 5-17
14.7% (3,994)
Ages 18-64
55.3% (15,010)
Ages 65-74
14.2% (3,847)
Ages 75-84
7.4% (2,011)
Ages 85+
2.5% (685)
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
24.8% 20.2% 13.4% slightly higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
21.2% 17.6% 12.5% slightly higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
9.6% 9.2% 8.3% ≈ average
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
0.2% 0.6% 4.3% 3.6x lower
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
5.2% 5.0% 8.7% ≈ average
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
13.1% 12.4% 6.7% ≈ average

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$47,574
Peers: $58,361 · National: $89,476
Per Capita Income
$24,785
Peers: $30,594 · National: $44,519
Median Home Value
$166,239
Peers: $178,626 · National: $402,761

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 20.0% of housing units are vacant, 1.9x 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
36.7% 23.2% 36.3% 1.6x higher
Wood Heating
Wood stoves and fireplaces as primary heat
9.8% 3.3% 1.4% 2.9x higher
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
20.0% 16.8% 10.3% slightly higher
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
20.5% 22.1% 5.8% ≈ average
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
17.0% 23.8% 34.7% slightly lower

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: 24.8% of residents have a disability, 1.8x 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
24.1% 19.4% 17.4% slightly higher
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
24.8% 20.2% 13.4% slightly higher
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
5.2% 5.0% 8.7% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
9.6% 9.2% 8.3% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
21.2% 17.6% 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
Fentress County Fire Department (You) TN 27,155 58.3 24.1% 21.2% 10
City Of Mckee Volunteer Fire Department KY 23,461 61.4 18.9% 21.6% 2
Marley Mill Volunteer Fire Department AL 24,559 57.1 17.9% 19.6% 1
Blountsville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept. Station 1 AL 30,667 55.8 14.4% 16.7% 1
Jackson County Central Fire Department TN 15,197 55.4 22.1% 18.9% 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.

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