response time analysis falmouth fire revision
TRANSCRIPT
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 1
A RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS
OF THE
FALMOUTH (MA.) FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT
Glen A. RogersFalmouth Fire Rescue Department
Falmouth, Massachusetts
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
I hereby certify that this paper constitutes my own product, that where the language of other is et forth, quotation ,marks so indicate, and that appropriate credit is given where I have used the language, ideas, expressions, or writings of another.
Signed____________________________________________________________
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 2
ABSTRACT
The Falmouth (Ma.) Fire Rescue Department (FFRD) did not have an accurate picture of
response times for fire and emergency medical responses. Analysis was conducted to discover
national and regional response criteria, ascertain current and historical FFRD response times,
discover prior analysis of FFRD responses and develop a ‘real time’ analysis of FFRD response
times. Descriptive and historical research methods were used throughout the research.
The technological expertise of the Falmouth’s IT Division and GIS Division created a
method to extract data as well as represent that data in GIS mapping. Attendance at CPSE’s
CFAI Self-Assessment Workshop, Standards of Cover Basic Workshop and Peer Assessor
Workshop provided background in evaluating response times and fire service criteria. FFRD
dispatch personnel were interviewed and observed. Multiple professional publications were
researched pertaining to emergency response.
Research questions explored important national and regional fire/ems response criteria
as well as the basis for these criteria, current FFRD response times and historical response
samplings, computer modeling results of independent sources for FFRD response times, and
exploring emergency service gaps in the community.
Analysis of FFRD responses for 2009 revealed an 87% response of 6 minutes or
less to emergency incidents. This percentage is a .6% decline from 2004 and 1999 and a 3%
decline from 1994. In the period from 1994 and 2009 FFRD incidents increased by 57%.
Emergency service gaps of over 6 minutes were found in the geographical center of Falmouth.
This researcher recommends that the FFRD continually monitor response times and strive
to meet a 90% under 6 minute response time, monitor call processing times, establish a standard
of cover, establish a emergency fire/ems unit in the Hatchville area and evaluate community ISO
reports and improve the community ISO rating.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 3
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT 2
INTRODUCTION 4
BACKROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE 5
LITERATURE REVIEW 10
PROCEDURES 21
RESULTS 22
DISCUSSION 43
RECOMMENDATIONS 48
REFERENCES 49
APPENDIX A 55
APPENDIX B 56
APPENDIX C 57
APPENDIX D 58
APPENDIX E 59
APPENDIX F 60
APPENDIX G 61
APPENDIX H 62
APPENDIX I 63
APPENDIX J 64
APPENDIX K 65
APPENDIX L 66
APPENDIX M 67
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 4
INTRODUCTION
The Falmouth (Ma.) Fire Rescue Department (FFRD) did not have an accurate picture of
response times for fire and emergency medical responses. This purpose of this research was to
utilize descriptive and historical research to conduct an in-depth analysis of the Falmouth Fire
Rescue Department responses and to answer the following questions:
1. What are the important national and regional fire and emergency medical response criteria
and what is the basis for these criteria?
2. What are the current FFRD response times? What are the samplings of past FFRD response
times?
3. What are the results of prior computer modeling of response times?
4. Are there any emergency service gaps within the geographic boundaries of Falmouth?
In 1919, a young and brash newcomer to Falmouth, Ray D. Wells, became Chief of the
Falmouth (Ma.) Fire Department. Chief Wells eradicated 13 village hand drawn ‘hose wagon’
stations located across the farmlands of town and set about establishing 5 fire stations, with
motorized apparatus, in strategic response areas. These Ahrens-Fox and Model T fire apparatus
could respond quicker and farther than the hand drawn carts and revolutionized fire response for
the citizens of Falmouth. (Todd, 1993)
Ninety years have brought additional services such as emergency medical, larger and
faster apparatus, modern and expansive road networks as well an increase in population from
3,500 to well over 35,000. Yet, there has been no reduction, expansion or in-depth analysis of how
effective these stations locations are to servicing the public with timely emergency fire and
medical services. The locations of those 1919 firehouses still serve the town to this day.
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The Falmouth Fire Rescue Department has been documenting vehicle response data since
the mid 1980’s. Several studies have also been commissioned to survey the station locations and
model response data as well. However no information has ever been gathered to actually use this
reported data and computer modeling to see how the department is actually performing or to make
recommendations for improvement.
BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE
The Falmouth Fire Rescue Department protects the citizens, visitors and structures in the
Town of Falmouth. The town was incorporated in 1686 as part of the Plymouth Bay Colony
formed by the Pilgrims who sailed from England. Located on the peninsula of Cape Cod off the
southeastern tip of Massachusetts, the town comprises 44 square miles with a year round
population of 33,451 and a summer population of 108, 500. (Falmouth Chamber Commerce,
2010)
The median age of the community is 45 thereby signifying a significant retirement
community. There are 20,000 housing units grouped around several unique villages which
provide the large town with a small town feel. A renowned scientific presence, the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution and Marine Biological Laboratory, is clustered in the town’s Woods
Hole village. The community has many public and private schools, nursing and assisted living
facilities and a 95 bed hospital.
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The town government is headed by a town manager overseen by a 5 member board of
selectmen. The community incorporates a biannual representative town meeting to approve the
town budget and vote on major matters within the town. Taxes are raised primarily via property
taxes, vehicle excise taxes and other assorted fees. (Falmouth Chamber Commerce, 2010)
The Falmouth Fire Department was established as a volunteer firefighting unit in 1897
utilizing 13 far flung stations with hand drawn hose reels and ladder carriages. The volunteers
could only ‘run’ a mile or so with the wagon like apparatus and the water supply was limited
hence the fire and life safety protection was minimal.
In 1919, the town hired a young summer visitor from Worcester, Ma., Ray D. Wells, to
be the first full time Fire Chief. Over the next 10 years Chief Wells abolished the 13 hand drawn
stations and established 5 stations in the significant villages of Woods Hole, Falmouth center,
East Falmouth, West Falmouth and North Falmouth. All stations were within 1 mile of the
shoreline of town where the majority of the population lived. Each of these stations was outfitted
with motorized apparatus and with at least one 24 hour a day person as a driver. (Todd, 1993)
The Ahrens Fox and Model T apparatus significantly changed the response times and
efficiency of the fire service of that day. As a matter of fact the establishment of those stations
and was so revolutionary that they remain in the same exact locations 90 years later.
Much has changed in those intervening years. The town’s population has grown from
3,500 to nearly 35,000 year round. The populated areas of town are denser and the sprawl of
citizens has covered the entire town. Commercially the town currently houses a significant
scientific and oceanographic community, several major and minor shopping malls and 10
nursing and assisted living facilities.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 7
The Falmouth Fire Rescue Department (FFRD) of modern times is a full service
emergency service providing 5 advanced life support ambulances, 5 fire engines, and 1 aerial
ladder working within a $6 million municipal budget. The department also supports a 3 person
fire prevention and life safety division providing fire inspection, code enforcement and fire
education. Fire Suppression and Emergency Medical Services are provided by trained
firefighter paramedics and emergency medical technicians. The department has 4 groups of 15
personnel (minimum of 10 personnel) from 5 stations. Each group is led by a shift Captain and
Lieutenant. Command staff includes the Chief of Department, 2 Deputy Fire Chiefs, 1
Emergency Medical Supervisor, Fire Prevention Officer and 2 fire prevention inspectors.
Civilian personnel include 2 mechanics, 1 fire alarm supervisor and 6 dispatchers.
The FFRD responded to 5717 combined EMS and Fire incidents in calendar year 2009.
75% of those calls were for EMS related causes with the remaining 25% being fire alarms,
miscellaneous assistance, and small and large fires (FFRD, 2009). In calendar year 1989, the
department responded to 3,296 incidents (FFRD, 1989). 1969 calendar year recorded 1127
incidents to the department (FFRD, 1969). Despite the obvious increase in incidents the
department still operates from the same fire station locations. One fire station is staffed by a
single firefighter. The same staffing that existed 90 years ago. Another station has 1 person 50%
of the time. The interior of the town has no fire rescue station. This area is portioned out to the
nearest station located towards the shoreline.
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The Falmouth Fire Rescue Department currently does not have an accurate picture of
response times for fire and EMS responses. Without an accurate picture of response times there
is no benchmark to measure service, no awareness of service gaps nor a basis for a ‘standard of
cover’. Measuring service against national and regional fire and EMS response criteria is vitally
important. There is presently no way to know if the dollars being expended are ‘hitting the mark’
when it comes to standards of saving lives and protecting property. This paper will research
national data on flashover, fire development, cardiac and brain survival, regional and EMS
response norms and emergency vehicle travel times and compare the FFRD to this data.
Important chronological times, such as time of a call, time on the air, time on arrival,
have been reported within the FFRD for many decades via various EMS, non fire and fire reports.
Both fire and non-fire reports have been filed for individual calls for well over 40 years. The
department has participated in the computerized National Fire Incident Reporting System for
over twenty years. The FFRD also has an ‘in house’ computerized “non-fire” incident form
cataloguing chronological times and other important information for each non-fire and EMS
incident. Additionally, each medical transport requires a patient medical care form to be completed
with the patient’s information and department transport times and mileages. Neither of these
reporting forms has been culled for response time statistics. This research will analyze response
data from ‘in house’ system and the NFIRS from 2009, 2004, 1999 and 1994.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 9
In addition a few studies have been accomplished utilizing computer modeling of response
times for station location analysis. The 1990 Massachusetts Municipal Association “Study of the
Falmouth Fire Department” will be researched for response time and station location research.
The 1996 report on “Fire Station Location Study” by Pyrotech Consultants will be researched for
computer modeling of response times and station locations.
The results of the FFRD response times will be compared and contrasted with the finding
of the MMA and Pyrotech studies to research accuracy of the data.
To date there has not been any ‘real time’ tracking of response times to develop a fractal
analysis to form a baseline for performance standards or at a minimum validate the current level
of service. Research findings will develop an analysis to be used to for a ‘standard of cover’
according to the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s Commission on Fire Accreditation
International.
Additionally service gaps beyond locally acceptable response time will be identified in
order to enhance strategic planning within the department.
Response times to emergency medical and fires that mirror national criteria to the closest
degree are paramount to reducing the loss of life to children and the elderly. The sooner the FFRD
knows where and how it is responding to emergencies the sooner it can improve on service where
needed. Quick response with trained personnel and proper equipment save lives and keeps
firefighters safe. This research will delve into current standards and how the FFRD has performed
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 10
up to 2009 as far as response times. With this data as a baseline, the department can build upon and
track, on a yearly basis, emergency response and thereby stay in front of the emerging issues such as the
effect of rapid fire destruction of lightweight construction on firefighter safety and the effect of
wildland/urban interface fires on property. These issues are directly related to the United States Fire
Administration’s operational objectives (USFA, 2009).
LITERATURE REVIEW
A review of literature addressing response times steers the researcher to two distinct
branches of delivery-fire and emergency medical response times. On a national level the
literature of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the American Heart Association
(AHA) present important standards.
The NFPA has vigorously researched and documented other’s research on fire dynamics
as they relate to fire propagation and time sequencing. Additional NFPA research has developed
standards relating to fire response chronology. AHA’s own research and research from other
medical societies are reported through AHA concerning cardiac and brain survival. Neither of
these agencies’ standards are ‘law’ however due to their high level of research and peer review
they both represent the “gold” standard and are referred to liberally both civil and criminal law.
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NFPA 1710 Standard for the Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical
Operations and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments (NFPA, 2001,
revised 2009) is focused on emergency service delivery by career fire departments thereby
applying to the Falmouth Fire Rescue Department. Another NFPA standard, 1720, is focused on
Volunteer Fire Departments. NFPA 1710 sets the bar for the minimum requirements of career
departments in delivering fire, ems and special operations. A 32 member committee, chaired by
Chief Alan Brunacini of the Phoenix Arizona Fire Department extensively studied and researched
the definitions, organization, services provided and systems used by full time fire and rescue
services before establishing a codified standard.
The fire suppression objectives are established around a 2,000 sq. ft., 2 story, single
family home with no cellar or basement and not factoring in any exposure issues. This scenario
represents a low hazard occupancy thereby generating a fairly standardized emergency response
(NFPA 1710, 2009). Research for this level of response was based on numerous experiments on
flashover of fire, fire propagation, civilian deaths, and dollar losses. The level of dollar loss and
loss of life clearly rises after the fire stage defined as ‘flashover’. Flashover simply means the
total envelopment of the room, area or building in fire. Survival of humans in these conditions is
nil (Managing Fire Services, 2002). Fire propagation experiments have shown consistently that
flashover occurs generally within 10 minutes after the initiation of the fire. Response of first
arriving units within 10 minutes of the start of a fire places resources where needed to save life
and property from flashover.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 12
Response times are addressed in terms of a “cascade of events” (NFPA, 1710) from a
normal ‘pre-event’ phase thru the start of the emergency situation to notification of the emergency
dispatch center and on thru the fire departments actions to control the event and back to a normal
‘post-event’ phase. The handling of the call at the emergency dispatch center will be covered in
the following review of literature while the fire departments actions responding are specifically
addressed in NFPA 1710. Actions after arrival at the scene to mitigate the emergency are widely
variable and not covered in any NFPA standard and also are not a part of this research paper. NFPA
1710 also dictates a yearly review of response times for the fire department. Standard 1710 focuses on
turnout time and travel time. Turnout time is defined as that time frame in seconds for the personnel to
react to the alarm, ‘gear up’ and board the apparatus. The standard sets 80 seconds or 1 minute 20
seconds for turnout time and 240 seconds or 4 minutes for travel time to the scene of the emergency for
the first arriving apparatus and 480 seconds or 8 minutes for the arrival of the full first alarm
assignment. Thereby the total maximum time for the fire department’s response to a fire at a 2,000 ft.
single family dwelling fire is 5 minutes and 20 seconds (NFPA 1710, 2009).
Standard 1710 also ‘sets the bar’ for the fire department’s response to emergency medical
responses utilizing the same ‘cascade of events’. Focus is on turnout time and travel time. The
ems objectives are established around a medical scenario representing the most serious medical
emergency, that of ventricular fibrillation, or cessation of pulse in a human being. The American
Heart Association has thoroughly documented that automatic external defibrillators give patients
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 13
the best chance of survival. This chance of survival decreases as each minute passes after the cessation
of pulses. When no CPR is performed the chances for survival go down 7-10 % for each minute to
defibrillation. The 50% survival rate is therefore hit at 5 minutes from arrest to AED without CPR. With
CPR the survival chances decrease 3-4% with each minute thereby time to first arriving AED and the
50% mark is elongated to nearly 12 minutes (AHA, 2009).
The first arriving fire/EMS unit, with an automatic defibrillator, is recommended to be on
scene within 240 seconds, or 4 minutes, to 90% of these incidents. Advanced Life Support
(ALS) provides added life saving services and medications provided by trained personnel. These
services should arrive within 480 seconds (8 minutes), 90% of the time if an AED was first on
scene. ALS should arrive in 240 seconds with a defibrillator if they are the first to arrive (NFPA
1710, 2009).
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) ‘cascade of events chart’ for total
response time to emergency incidents also deals with the actual handling of alarms and calls for
emergency assistance. NFPA standard 1221, Installation, Maintenance, and use of Emergency
Services Communications Systems, specifically addresses alarm transfer time (one button
transfer from a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to an emergency dispatch center), alarm
answering time and alarm processing time.
Standard 1221 7.4.1 dictates answering emergency calls within 15 seconds for 95% of the
calls, 99% within 40 seconds. This level should be verified monthly. Standard 1221 7.4.2 directs
a 90% of alarm or call processing within 60 seconds and 99% within 90 seconds. Records of
these times are to be maintained and clocks are recommended to be synchronized weekly within
5 seconds of multiple clocks within the system (NFPA 1221, 2010).
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The International City Managers Association, in their text Managing Fire Services as
edited by Fire Chief Dennis Compton and consultant John Granito, address all aspects of the
large and small fire services from budgeting to communications centers. This resource
specifically addresses response times in a chapter on “Organizing and Deploying Resources”.
ICMA states that “Time is also a big factor in saving lives because once respiratory and cardiac
functions cease, four to six minutes is as long as a human being can survive without intervention
and resuscitation” (Managing Fire Services, P 121). In addition the ICMA addresses fire station
locations in this chapter. Fire Stations need to be located in an ‘orderly pattern’ to respond in a
‘timely manner’ with ‘short travel distances’. Computer modeling and historical data on response
times aid decision makers on fire station placement. (MFS, 2002)
ICMA and the Urban Institute published a 3rd edition of How Effective are your
Community Services: procedures for performance measurement in 2006 delineating ‘measures’
for community services. Measure 20 deals with the ‘percentage of times that are less than a
specified amount’ for fire responses set by a community however the group recommends
utilizing NFPA and Insurance Services (ISO) guidelines. The measures are on response times
from the receipt of the call, dispatch, turnout time and travel time. Emergency Medical Services
measures are inclined to measure how many critically ill or injured patients arrive at the hospital
alive and how many leave alive. This data is to measure survival rates. The text also
recommends the use of geographical information systems (GIS) to evaluate response times in a
community.
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The 3rd edition of Principles of EMS Systems printed in 2006 by the American College of
Emergency Physicians and edited by Dr. John Brennan and Dr. Jon Krohmer joins in the
discussion with a section on ‘Response Times and System Status Management’. The group
states adamantly that the speed of response is the most critical factor in successful resuscitation.
Survival decreases 10% every minute without care. EMS should be able to deliver basic life
support (BLS) in 3-4 minutes and ALS in 6-8 minutes. The best practice is BLS in 4 minutes and
ALS in 8 minutes. This text also recommends a ‘fractal response time’ measurement. Each
response is measured by the minute, categorized by the minute and a percentage of the total calls
for each minute are calculated. A 90th percent measurement is mentioned as the most common
measurement tool.
The Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRC) of the Insurance Service Office (ISO) is
the chief means of setting commercial and homeowners building insurance policies. The ISO’s
rating schedule traces its roots back to 1909 and the ‘Municipal Inspection and Grading System’
and since 1971 ISO has been the leading source of information on property and casualty risk.
The agency’s FSRC evaluates many aspects of a fire department’s services from Fire alarm and
communications, training and station distribution to the water supply system in the community.
The Falmouth Fire Rescue Department underwent an in depth review from the ISO in 2007 and
received a “4” rating on a 1-10 scale for Public Protection Classification with 1 being the
highest rating and 10 being no protection. The insurance rating was established and ISO reports
were issued to the Fire Chief and Town Administrator. This report, and the prior 1994 report;
have seen very little action toward improvement of the rating.
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The FSRC most directly assesses response times under items 560 Distribution of
Companies and 561 Credit for Distribution. The rating is for first due engine companies within
1½ miles and ladder companies within 2 ½ miles of the ‘built upon’ area of the community. A
map of the community with fire stations designated as well as hydrants is used with 1 ½ mile and
2 ½ mile polygons drawn.
Hydrants within the radius are counted and a numeric formula is computed to achieve a
point system relating to how much of the ‘built upon’ area of town is covered by fire stations.
The 1 ½ mile distance presents an approximate travel time of 4 minutes and a 2 ½ mile distance
of 6 minutes within the most built up area of town indicated by those areas with hydrants.
Falmouth received 1.74 points out of a maximum of 4 points. The 2007 report recommended 7
engine companies while the 1994 report pointed to 6. The FFRD has 5 engine companies.
The “Center for Public Safety Excellence” (CPSI) is a non-profit agency that promotes
excellence in public safety through a partnership with prestigious professional fire service
associations such as the International City Managers Association, Insurance Service Office,
International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Firefighters and the United
States Fire Administration. CPSI promotes fire service excellence thru performance standards in
its’ Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and Commission on Professional
Credentialing (CPC).
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The CFAI presents a process for professional accreditation that begins with a self
assessment of the fire department via a team approach working on measurable goals and
objectives of how the department is currently performing. The next step in the process is to
develop a ‘standard of cover’ outlining such areas as existing deployment, identifying risk,
service level objectives and performance for the individual community. Most importantly the
performance objectives are drawn up by the community team reflecting the national standards.
The final process is to obtain a ‘peer assessment’ from a team of fire service professionals whom
assess the performance of the department on an in-depth level based on these performance
measures (CFAI Self Assessment manual, 2006).
The ‘standard of cover’ brings together the standards of the NFPA 1221, 1710 and 1720
recognizing the science behind the justification of fire propagation and emergency medical
survival. CFAI also sees different levels of service based upon the density of the community
metropolitan, urban, suburban, rural and wilderness. The communities can also fractal the
priority of the calls thereby focusing on ‘real’ emergency standards.
Falmouth has not developed a ‘standard of cover’ nor begun a self assessment. The
author has attended the CFAI 3 day workshop covering the self-assessment, standard of cover
and peer assessor series in 2008. However, in a review of the 2006 edition of the Self
Assessment Manual, a review of the response time analysis recommends a collection and
analysis of ‘hard data’ to gather in-house data and compare to national levels. Community
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 18
baselines are to be established reflecting the density and population of the area. One reference in the
manual applies to Falmouth in the sense of a ‘suburban’ area with a population of nearly 30,000 and a
density of 1,000 per square mile. The ‘benchmark’ for a suburban area like Falmouth would be 5
minutes travel time for the first due engine or EMS with a baseline of 70% achievement within 6
minutes with a 50 second differential. Dispatch times are 60 seconds for 90% of the responses and a
turnout time of 60 seconds in the day time and 90 seconds after midnight. Thereby the total response
time, 90% of the responses, should be 7-7 ½ minutes. In a denser area of a community, such as the core
or downtown area of Falmouth and Woods Hole area, the travel time should be 1 minute faster due to
the density of the population and structures or 6- 6 ½ minutes.
In 1990, the Massachusetts Municipal Association was commissioned by the Town of
Falmouth to perform a “Report Relative to the Fire Department” (MMA, 1990) studying the
resources and assets of the department, emergency medical services, personnel and staffing and
organizational structure. The study yielded 34 recommendations ranging from vehicles and
equipment, stations, standards and planning, dispatch function, EMS, staffing and administration.
The study pointed out as a standard that brain damage is permanent in 4 minutes and heart attack
victims are unlikely to survive without ALS or BLS within that time. Additionally trauma cases
would need EMS care in 4 minutes.
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This study did not delve too deeply into response times however it was one of the first
‘outside’ in-depth analysis of the department and its services and provided an example to town
government of the assets and vulnerabilities of the fire department. The MMA study did study
road distances between stations and make recommendations. Consolidation of 2 stations was
investigated however the travel distances were deemed on a ‘margin of acceptability’ and that
the current station location presented a better response pattern. One note of interest was that the
1990 study looked into an additional 6th station however recommended against the addition since
‘growth’ didn’t indicate the need. Growth patterns were recommended to be monitored in the
‘next several years’ to see if the 6th station was needed. Twenty years hence this research will
investigate the ‘growth’ in terms of fire/rescue response.
As part of an analysis of a 1929 headquarters fire station, the Town of Falmouth obtained
the services of Pyrotech Consultants of Sandwich, Massachusetts in 1996. This study was
commissioned to examine the condition of the old station to determine the feasibility of
rehabilitation or new construction, the space needs of the department, provide a preliminary
drawing of a station, determine the best location for a station based on computer modeling of
response times, pinpoint deficiencies in response coverage and additional equipment needed for
the next 20-40 years.
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The study used standard time temperature curve for fire propagation, response time
sequencing, road network and speed data to justify the response time modeling. A 1 minute
dispatch and turnout time was used in conjunction with a 5 minute travel time to summate a 6
minute response time standard for the mapping (Pyrotech, 1996).
Chronological times and incident locations were reviewed via Falmouth Fire Rescue
Incident reports. Calendar year 2009 documented 5717 total incidents, calendar year 2004
documented 5339 incidents, calendar year 1999 documented 4269, calendar 1994 documented
3285 for a total of 18,610 incidents reviewed (FFRD, 2010). The review was accomplished and
cross checked via computer, hand tally and visual confirmation of chronological times, incident
locations and incident types as part of the literature review. An extensive portion of this research
preparation involved actual data collection and compilation of fractal performances.
The Falmouth Fire Rescue Department has been recording response data concerning fire
and EMS responses for many decades. Paper reports were completed up to 1990 and this
researcher found these reports difficult to compile and accurately portray. The department has
recorded response times since 1990 via a computerized fire and non fire format. Data from the
first few years of collection was found to be not accurate due to the large learning curve within
the department personnel. Incident reports beyond 1993 were found to be accurate. Although
these reports were completed for each incident no response time data was ever evaluated. This
current research will utilize this historical information, compare it to standards, identify
deficiencies and develop recommendations.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 21
PROCEDURES
Many hours of consultation and cooperation between this researcher, Town of Falmouth
Information Technology Technician, June Grunin, and Town of Falmouth Geographical
Information System Administrator, Bob Shea, devised a program to extract, organize and
represent response times for every incident in the research years of 2009, 2004, 1999 and 1994.
This new program also calculates data for any designated year or for the current day or hour
greatly enhancing operational review of department performance. (Appendix A) Each incident
can be ordered by station district, apparatus and or time. Data points were extracted for input into
GIS X-Y coordinate mapping to present a clear visual representation of each response by
chronological ranges.
Response times for entire department incidents for the years 2009, 2004, 1999 and 1994
were calculated and converted to 6 minute fractal percentages. Over 18,500 incidents were
analyzed to separate non emergency calls from the total calls. This process was necessary to
obtain a true representation of the emergency response fractal.
This researcher also attended the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s Commission on
Fire Accreditation International’s Self Assessment Workshop, Standards of Cover-Basic
Workshop and Peer Assessor Workshop in September of 2007. This workshop was held on West
Barnstable, Massachusetts comprising 24 hours of instruction on the standards and processes
involved in obtaining professional accreditation from CPSE.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 22
This researcher also observed and interviewed 3 full time and 3 part-time dispatchers in
the Falmouth Fire Rescue Department to ascertain the exact processes involved in the call taking,
apparatus assignment, and radio dispatch of emergency and non-emergency incidents. Additional
hours were spent listening to live radio dispatch and transmissions between units of the FFRD in
order to verify actual response time scenarios.
The procedures for this research also included reading and taking notes from professional
journals, texts, and consultant’s studies all relating to the existing national and regional standards
on response time and the current professional discussions on fire and emergency medical
response times. These national and regional standards where then compared to the performance
of the FFRD.
RESULTS
RESEARCH QUESTION #1 What are the important national and regional fire and EMS
response criteria? What is the basis for these criteria?
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) was established in 1896 with a mission
of “reducing the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing
and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training and education”. Membership
in the NFPA comprises over 75,000 individuals internationally. 6,000 of these members have
seats on consensus committees that develop 300 plus codes and standards. The consensus
process is accredited with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The NFPA is
recognized throughout the world as the foremost authority on fire protection and fire prevention
(NFPA, 2010).
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NFPA’s standard 1221, Installation and maintenance, and use of emergency services
communications systems, was originally started in 1898 as a fire signaling standard. The
standard has been updated and revised multiple times in the intervening years in recognition of
the progress of technology involved with emergency communications systems. The latest edition
of 1221 was issued in June of 2009. The 13 member committee represented a host of fire service,
emergency communications and private interests to provide a fair and balanced standard. (NFPA
1221, 2010)
The purpose of the standard is:
1. To specify operations, facilities and communications systems that receives alarms
from the public.
2. To provide requirements for the retransmission of such alarms to the appropriate
emergency response agencies.
3. To provide requirements for dispatching of appropriate emergency response personnel.
4. To establish the required levels of performance and quality of installations of
emergency services communications systems.
The standard’s application is to dispatch systems, telephone systems, public reporting
systems, one way and two way radio communications between the public and emergency
response agencies, within emergency response agencies and among emergency response
agencies (NFPA 1221, 2010).
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 24
NFPA 1221 specifically addresses the communications portion of the emergency incident
and not the response of the agency. Section 7.4 Operating Procedures directly addresses
communications center chronological performance standards.
1.4.1 Ninety five percent (95%) of alarms received on emergency lines shall be answered
within 15 seconds, and 99 percent all alarms shall be answered within 40 seconds
Compliance with 7.4.1 shall be evaluated monthly using data from the previous month.
1.4.2 Ninety percent (90%) of the emergency alarm processing shall be completed within 60
seconds, and 99 percent of alarm processing shall be completed within 90 seconds.
Compliance with 7.4.2 shall be evaluated monthly using data from the previous month.
7.4.4 Where alarms are transferred from a primary public safety answering point (PSAP) to a
secondary answering point, the transfer shall not exceed 30 seconds for ninety five
percent (95%) of all alarms processed.
7.4.7 Records of dispatch of emergency response units to alarms shall be maintained and shall
identify the following: 1. Unit designation for each emergency response unit 2. Time of
dispatch acknowledgement by each unit 3. Enroute time of unit 4. time of arrival of each
unit 5. time of patient contact, if applicable 6. Time each unit returned to service. (NFPA
1221, 2010)
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 25
Additionally the standard outlines record keeping for emergency dispatch under sub
section 12.5. Operational Records
12.5.1 Call and dispatch performance statistics shall be compiled and maintained in accordance
with Section 7.4
12.5.2 Statistical Analysis for call and dispatch performance measurement shall be done
monthly and compiled over a 1 year period.
12.5.2.1 A management information system (MIS) program shall track incoming calls and
dispatched alarms and provide real-time information and strategic management reports.
(NFPA 1221, 2010)
NFPA 1710 is the standard for Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression
Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career
Fire Departments. NFPA 1720 sets the standard for the same operations by Volunteer Fire
Departments. NFPA 1710 was first issued in 2001 and recently updated in June 2009 by 27
members representing career fire departments, labor representative, fire chiefs, and city
mangers from the United States and Canada. The Falmouth Fire Rescue Department is a full
career department and is therefore falls under the NFPA 1710 standard. (NFPA 1710, 2009)
NFPA 1710 sets a recognized level of service based on research for the level of service,
deployment capabilities and staffing levels for career departments responding to fires,
emergency medical incidents and special operations.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 26
The NFPA clearly defines a situation it calls a ‘cascade of events’ when referring to
response time in total. This ‘cascade of events’ applies to fire, medical and special operations.
(Appendix B) The cascade begins with a state of normalcy interrupted by an emergency event
starting, the discovery of such an event. These 3 events, as well as the final 2 of the ‘cascade’-
recovery and return to a state of normalcy- are not controllable by emergency responders
however fire prevention and medical emergency prevention do have some effect.
The intervening portions of the ‘cascade’ effect response times and are somewhat
controllable by emergency responders. There are 3 phases defined by the NFPA as parts of the
whole response time equation. Phase 1 is ‘alarm handling’ which is alarm transferring,
answering and processing of the call. This phase is directly addressed in NFPA 1221. Phase 2
is ‘turn out time’ and ‘travel time’ which is covered in NFPA 1710. Turnout time is the time
frame allowed for forces to receive notification of the incident, obtain protective gear and
mount emergency vehicles. Travel time is that time interval for driving from the emergency
station to the scene of the emergency. (NFPA 1710, 2009)
Phase 3 the action initiating and intervention phase such as water being placed on the fire
or medical aid being rendered to a patient. The section on ‘control and mitigation of event’ is
also impacted by ems and fire forces however there are many variables to this section to
thereby difficult to define.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 27
The firefighting benchmark is based upon a structure fire in a 2000 sq. ft 2 story single
family dwelling with no basement and no fire exposure issues to other structures. This
scenario is considered a Low Hazard Occupancy by the 12th edition of the National Fire
Protection Handbook published in 2008. The benchmark is set to the stage of fire known as
‘flashover’. Flashover is a fire condition in which gas (air) temperatures are over 500 degrees
Celsius and the compartment has become totally involved in fire and superheated air. This
stage of fire is non-survivable to humans. The NFPA’s Fire Analysis and Research Division
has researched and presented a fire propagation curve for the example dwelling. The curve
depicts the percent of destruction of property at 50% at 8 minutes (Appendix C). This point
delineates the fire confined to the room of origin and expanding beyond the room of origin
(NFPA 1710, 2009).
A March 2004 FEMA and US Department of Commerce report Structural collapse fire
tests: Single Story, Wood Frame Structures conducted multiple full scale fire experiments in
Phoenix Arizona on single story wood frame dwellings. The results of these experiments
presented 700 Celsius in 200 secs. (3 min 20 sec.) for 4 experiments in the room of origin. An
adjacent bedroom reached 600 Celsius in 200 sec (3 Min 20 sec.), 400 sec. (6 min 40), 500
secs. (8min. 20sec) (Appendix D) and 800 secs. (10 min). (NIST, 2004)
NFPA 1710 section 4.1.2.1 allows a maximum of 80 seconds (1 minute 20 seconds) for
fire and special operations ‘turnout time’ and 60 seconds (1 minute) for EMS response ‘turnout
time’. Travel time under the same section for first arriving fire or ems units is 240 seconds (4
minutes). 480 seconds (8 minutes) is set for the benchmark for arrival of full fire and ems
assignment. EMS response at this level should be Advanced Life Support in the form of
paramedics. There is established as a 90% performance objective for turnout and travel time.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 28
The Emergency Medical benchmark is based upon the most serious medical emergency
which is cessation of pulses due to ventricular fibrillation as determined by the American Heart
Association. First arriving medical units must arrive with an Automatic External Defibrillator.
NFPA 1710 section 4.1.2.5 outlines that evaluations be done on an annual basis for total
response time and response time increments. An evaluation of response time data is also part
of the standard for each geographic area of the community.
Overall, the combination of NFPA 1221 and 1710 response time standards delineate 75
seconds (1 minute 15 seconds) for alarm processing, 60-80 seconds (1 minute to 1 minute 20
seconds) for turnout time and 240 seconds (4 minutes) for first unit arrival time and 480
seconds (8 minutes) for full response. The total chronological response time for both fire/ems
first response units is 6 to 6 ½ minutes. A 90% performance objective is set as an acceptable
benchmark.
The American Heart Association (AHA) was formed in 1924 by 6 cardiologists with the
sole purpose to share information and research regarding heart disease. The AHA is an
internationally recognized health agency that provides funding for research into cardiovascular
disease. The AHA also is deeply involved in stroke research as well through a branch
association called the American Stroke Association. Through many years of extensive past
research and ongoing research the AHA has been able to clearly define standards for cardiac
and stroke care in order to increase survival rates for victims. These standards have been able
to address a timeline for survival chances with and without defibrillation for sudden cardiac
arrest. (AHA, 2005)
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 29
Sudden cardiac arrest is a serious medical condition resulting in the cessation of pulses
due to an interruption in the electrical activity of the heart. This condition is often times
referred to a ‘heart attack’ although the AHA defines a heart attack as a serious medical
condition also of the myocardium however involving a clot, or blockage, in one or more of the
coronary arteries causing chest pain or a cessation of heart function. This condition is treated
with clot busting drug therapy and other treatments and not defibrillation.
The AHA reports that there are approximately 295,000 cases of SCA outside of the
hospital environment in the United States (AHA, 2005). Unfortunately most of these cases are
non survivable. The greatest chance for survival is through early recognition, early cardio
pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and early defibrillation. Time is the critical factor. The AHA
reports that with each minute without CPR and defibrillation the chance of survival decreases
7-10% (Appendix E). After 5 minutes the chances of survival are less than 50% and at 6
minutes the chances are less than 40% (AHA, 2005).
The AHA’s research via Recommended guidelines for reporting data from out-of-hospital
cardiac arrest: the Ulstein style (1991) cites 4 clocks of sudden cardiac arrest. These clocks
recognize one clock for the patient from collapse to restoration of respiration a second clock
for dispatch center processing of the call, a third clock for ambulance mobilization and arrival
at the hospital and a fourth clock for hospital care from arrival at the emergency room to
discharge from the hospital. This research paper will be concerned with the dispatch and
ambulance clocks. This ‘Ulstein Style’ reporting also recognizes a ‘call response interval’
which is that chronological time frame from the receipt of the emergency call by dispatchers to
‘wheel stop’ of the first arriving emergency vehicle (Appendix F & G).
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 30
The AHA has scientifically found that brain death begins after 4-6 minutes of SCA.
Considering the ‘clocks’ of dispatch and emergency vehicles are a factor in this timeframe the
optimal response for a first unit with a defibrillator to a case of sudden cardiac arrest should be
4 minutes with advanced life support (ALS) provided by paramedics arriving within 8 minutes.
The American College of Emergency Physicians’ Principles of EMS systems (2006)
addresses response times as a ‘response intervals’ meaning the chronological time between 2
points. In the case of emergency response that interval is from the time of call to the time of the
first unit arrival on the scene. The ACEP points out that computing an ‘average’ response time,
adding up all individual response times and dividing by the total calls, results in a number in
which 50% of the calls are longer than the average. Each of these calls is a patient thereby
meaning that 50% of the patients receive a longer response than the ‘average’. The ACEP
recommends a ‘fractal response time’ measurement whereby each minute range of a response
is noted, the number of calls are counted for each minute range and calculated as a percentage
of the total calls. The group recommends a 90% fractal benchmark be used to report response
times.
RESEARCH QUESTION #2 What are the current FFRD response times? What are the
samplings of past FFRD response times?
The Falmouth Fire Rescue Department responded to 5717 total incidents in calendar year
2009. Total incident response times 6 minutes or under were 83.9% while emergency response
times 6 minutes or under were 87% (FFRD, 2009).
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 31
These incidents include emergency and non emergency incidents. Emergency incidents
are characterized by a ‘lights and sirens’ response dictated by the information from the caller
as processed by the dispatcher. These responses can range from true medical emergencies such
as Sudden Cardiac Arrest, heart attack, choking, motor vehicle accidents or less serious
incidents such as medical alarms, stubbed toe, urinary tract infection, etc. Fire emergency calls
can range as well from the more serious structure fire with life hazard to the residential fire
alarm. Non emergency calls are non lights and sirens calls such as lifting assistance; lock out,
non specific outside smoke investigation or non symptomatic carbon monoxide alarm
activation.
It is important to delineate emergency incidents from non emergency incidents when
calculating response time as the non emergency calls entail a greater response time thereby
skewing any total response time analysis. Emergency lights and sirens response presents a
great danger to responders and the public therefore should be reserved for those calls requiring
a quick response. Unfortunately the initial call to the dispatch center does not provide enough
information on the patient’s condition to downgrade a response. It is also important to note that
the speed of the responding emergency vehicle responding with lights and sirens is the same for
sudden cardiac arrest and a stubbed toe thereby all emergency calls have similar vehicles
speeds when responding.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 32
The 5717 incidents in calendar year 2009 for the FFRD can be broken down as follows:
Station total calls total > than 6 min fractal emergency>6 emergency fractal
1 2875 165 94.3% 105 96.35%
2 246 24 90.25% 16 93.5%
3 695 152 78.1% 130 81.3%
4 231 33 85.8% 29 86.6%
5 1670 545 67.4% 466 72.1%
Total 5717 919 83.9% 744 87%
This researcher chose 5 year increments to obtain an historical sampling of past FFRD
response times. Calendar year 2005, 1999 and 1994 were researched. These years represent the
era of computerized record keeping in the FFRD therefore the data was readily available and
able to be calculated. Incidents reports prior to 1994 were reported via various paper reports
and daily log entries. These reports also lacked data on ‘first unit on scene’ which is an
important data point for measuring performance.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 33
Calendar year 2005 presented 5339 incidents to the FFRD. Performance percentages
were 84.7% total calls 6 minutes and under while emergency only calls were 87.53% (FFRD,
2005).
Station total calls total > than 6 min fractal emergency>6 emergency fractal
1 2647 119 95.5%% 92 96.5%%
2 260 32 87.7% 26 90%
3 628 143 78% 124 80.2%
4 234 59 75% 48 80%
5 1560 464 70.26% 376 76%
Total 5339 817 84.7% 151 87.53%
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 34
Calendar Year 1999 brought 4269 incidents to the FFRD with a fractal percentage of 84%
for total calls under 6 minutes and 87.6% for emergency calls under 6 minutes (FFRD, 1999).
Station total calls total > than 6 min fractal emergency>6 emergency fractal
1 2019 146 92.7% 101 95%
2 233 23 90.1% 14 94%
3 407 76 86.7% 47 88.5%
4 163 35 78 .5% 22 86 .5%
5 1158 424 63.4% 346 70.1%
Total 4269 682 84% 152 87.6%
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 35
Calendar year 1994 rung in 3285 incidents to the FFRD with a fractal percentage
calculation of 88.1% of total call 6 minutes or under with 90% of the emergency calls
responding in 6 minutes or under(FFRD, 1994).
Station total calls total > than 6 min fractal emergency>6 emergency fractal
1 1661 79 95.2% 65 96%
2 153 15 90.2% 13 91.5%
3 322 44 86.35 11 88.5%
4 160 28 82.5% 22 86.3%
5 989 223 77.5% 192 80.5%
Total 3285 389 88.1% 60 90%
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 36
RESEARCH QUESTION #3 What are the results of prior computer modeling of response
times?
In August of 1990 a “Report Relative to the Fire Department” was the culmination of an
intensive study by the Massachusetts Municipal Association Consulting Group, Inc. Dr. John
Granito, a well respected researcher and fire service expert and Deputy Chief Phil McLaughlin,
EMS Deputy Chief of the Philadelphia, Pa. Fire Department were the chief personnel
contracted by MMA to conduct the study. The study looked at the resources and assets of the
department, emergency medical services, personnel and staffing, organization and structure of
the department. Thirty four recommendations were presented to the management of the FFRD
and the town manager.
Research into the 1990 MMA study revealed no computer modeling and only
rudimentary measuring of distances between stations via a ‘windshield survey’. The study
found that the following shortest road distances between stations:
#1 and #5 4.1 miles #1 and #2 2.9 miles
#1 and #4 4.2 miles #4 and #3 3.7 miles
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 37
The study also interviewed fire and town management and found that there had been a
proposal to construct a sixth station in the northwest section of town in anticipation of growth
in this section. Some analysis was done on combining stations #3and #4 by the team.
The MMA team did state that ‘a vehicle traveling 30 mph requires two minutes to travel
one mile” (MMA, 1990). Although this is logical it is rudimentary and not a scientific
modeling of response time.
Recommendations from the team in 1990 did however come to some conclusions on the
number of stations based on the geography and road network as well as population and building
growth. MMA stated that the current number of stations was a better option for the town than
combining 2 of the western stations, #3 and #4. This is based on the rudimentary travel time
calculation of 30 mph covering 1 mile in 2 minutes. “The distances are on the very margin of
acceptability” (MMA, 1990). Additionally, the study recommended against a 6th station as
growth at that time did not warrant the increase however “growth should be monitored over the
next several years to determine if such a station is warranted” (MMA, 1990).
In May of 1996, a Fire Station Location Study was prepared by Pyrotech Consultants of
Sandwich, Ma. headed by Fire Protection Engineer Anthony Caputo. This in-depth fire station
location study was primarily conducted as an outgrowth of the 1990 MMA study
recommending more study on
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 38
the space needs of the fire headquarters, Station #1. This study intensively analyzed the
headquarters station, future equipment needs and possible sites for a new station. The process
for investigating possible sites of a new station involved the first computer modeling of FFRD
fire station locations with graphical representations of computer predicted response times. The
computer analysis computed all the data necessary to accurately show response times such as
one way roads, varying roads speeds dependant on road topography, placement of stop signs
and traffic lights, etc.
The group included explanations of response times and response components, time
temperature curve for fire growth and CPR survival rates based on time. Based on these criteria
the Pyrotech agency utilized a 1 minute turnout time and dispatch time and a 5 minute travel
time for a total response time of 6 minutes. “The 6 minute response time is a practical standard
for delivery of fire and initial emergency medical services. Providing service to all areas within
a 6 minute response time is not feasible or practical from either a financial or practical
standpoint. The target of a 6 minute response time to a 95 percent of the entities is much more
feasible and practical.”(Pyrotech, 1996)
Initial findings revealed that 78.8% (335 of 425) of the road miles could be covered by
the existing stations and a nearby automatic line response agreement in 6 minutes or less
(Appendix F). It was also noted that the automatic line response required the availability of
equipment and personnel from the neighboring department of Mashpee which was found to be
of limited value. The consultants further modeled the community by moving the headquarters
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 39
location approximately .5 miles north from an existing location and adding a 6th station in the
geographic center of town. This configuration revealed 94.8% coverage of road miles in 6
minutes and under (Appendix H& I) without the automatic line company (Pyrotech, 1996).
The 1995 Pyrotech study also calculated incidents and found that the geographic center
of town, and area without a fire station, had 250 emergency calls. This number is greater than
those of either of Station #2 (Woods Hole) or Station #4 (West Falmouth). These stations had
been in existence since the 1930’s at their current locations. The study recommended a 6th
station in the Hatchville area be constructed as soon as possible (Pyrotech, 1996).
Computer modeling found that of the 425 total road miles in the community, the current
station configuration with automatic line response (ALR) from the community of Mashpee
could cover 78.8% (335 road miles) in less than 6 minutes. Since the line response is not 100%
reliable and distance of the Mashpee station nearly 3 miles distant from the closest populated
areas of Falmouth the recommendation (and reality) is to not include the ALR in the
calculations. The reverse calculations reveal that 21.2% of the community cannot be reached in
6 minutes or less.
The study also discovered that there was a significant portion of the geographical center
of town that was outside the 6 minute response time. The number of incidents cited in the
study within this area for 1995 was 250. The number of FFRD incidents in 1995 was 3493.
The 230 emergency calls represented 6.6% of the department totals. A computer model placing
a fire station in the center of the area of the area targeted revealed that 94.8% of the road miles
(403 of 425) could be covered in 6 minutes or less. (Appendix J)
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 40
The 1996 Pyrotech study provided significant computer modeling of response times.
Recommendations at that time were directed toward work on the 1929 vintage fire headquarters
however significant findings from the study revealed a large service gap and offered solutions to
improve service.
As part of this research project significant hours were spent in collaboration with Town
of Falmouth Information Technology Assistant June Grunin and Geographical Information
Systems Director Bob Shea. This team was able to bring together, for the first time, a merger of
FFRD response time data and GIS mapping to computer model response times throughout the
community. The technicians were able to map incremental minutes of response times as
reported in FFRD reports. This research will focus on modeling responses under and over 6
minutes. However this ability to graphically represent times will greatly enhance FFRD
performance objectives in the future.
RESEARCH QUESTION #4 Are there any emergency service gaps within the geopgraphic
boundaries of Falmouth?
This question will be answered by comparing the regional and national response criteria,
real time fractal analysis and GIS mapping.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 41
The science behind fires and emergency medical reveals clearly that time is a critical
factor in saving lives and property. Saving lives and property is the core mission and value to
the fire and EMS service and FFRD is no exception. Total response time of 6 minutes or less is
clearly supported by fire and ems science.
Turning to the available data and other tools, the task is to compare the FFRD’s response
times to this national standard. The incident charts representing FFRD responses for 2009,
2004, 1999 an 1994 reveal 6 minute response performance in the range of 96% to 90% in the
Station #1 and Station #2 response districts. Although there are areas that can be improved
upon in these districts representing the heavily populated and commercial core of Falmouth and
Woods Hole village there is no significant service gap. This area also has an area of
overlapping coverage within 1 ½ miles from each station thereby providing the ability to obtain
percentages in the 90’s.
The West Falmouth #4 and North Falmouth #3 station response district reach 86.6% and
80% revealing areas of this district that need to be investigated. The most significant areas that
beg for investigation are the East Falmouth #5 response area that historically reaches only the
lower and mid 70th percentile.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 42
In depth analysis of actual call locations and response times over 6 minutes and GIS
mapping reveals geographic service gaps beyond the 6 minute standard. Although there are
small areas of the community that are outside 6 minutes in the downtown and far eastern
portions of Falmouth the most significant gap occurs in the geographical center of the town
also known as Hatchville. Response times of 7-10 minute appear to be the norm for this area.
This area is also well populated with year round single family homes. Housing Development in
this area began to flourish in the mid 1960’s. Business and commercial structures are rare. The
neighborhoods of Ashumet Valley, Cordwood Landing, Caravel Dr., Pinecrest Beach,
Coonamessett Pond, Northern Sandwich Rd., Rt. 151 and Hatchville center comprise this
service gap area. This area extends beyond a simple 1.5 mile radius from stations #3, #4 and
#5. 50% of this area is covered by the closest station which is #5. The station #3 area covers
approximately 35% Hatchville while station #4 covers the remaining 15%. The distribution of
the Hatchville area among the 3 stations ‘connects the dots’ concerning subpar response times.
Comparative Analysis ‘district of origin’ Hatchville vs. Stations #2 and #4
2009 5717 incidents #2 246 #4 231 Hatchville 240 4.2%
2004 5339 incidents #2 260 #4 234 Hatchville 220 4.12%
1999 4163 incidents #2 233 #4 163 Hatchville 180 4.32%
1994 3285 incidents #2 153 #4 160 Hatchville 120 3.65%
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 43
DISCUSSION
Firefighters, Paramedics and EMTs of the Falmouth Fire Rescue Department have known
for years the importance of their profession and the impact on the citizens. The impact of a
quick response is drummed into them from recruit fire training and emergency medical
training. The lessons of flashover time, effects of smoke on victims, quick and early
defibrillation, early CPR and ‘time is tissue’ are covered in fire and EMS refresher classes and
in-service training. They respond quickly out the doors of the station and zip through traffic
with lights and sirens with speed and care to reach the scene of any emergency as quickly as
possible. Dispatchers dutifully communicate and record the chronological time of each and
every incident. These times are recorded in each and every incident report that is generated by
the department for over 30 years yet no system was ever in place to track these times to form a
response time analysis. Basically, there was nothing in place to tell the firefighters, dispatchers,
fire rescue administration and most of all the citizens of Falmouth how the department was
performing in reference to response times.
The science is well documented on the chronology of flashover. There are different
results depending on the building construction and type, fuel load and weather conditions
however the NFPA, NIST and others agree that a fire in a room in a single family dwelling fire
will flash and spread beyond the room of origin in 6 minutes. Once beyond the room of origin
the building is susceptible to full flashover in approximately 10 minutes without sprinkler or
firefighting intervention. Once the fire is beyond the room of origin the occupants are in greater
danger and the damage to the structure significantly increases.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 44
The science is also clearly behind quick response times for emergency medical incidents.
The American Heart Association (AHA) and others have conducted numerous studies over
many years on cardiac health and survival. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is often a mortal
condition whereby the electrical activity on the heart ceases causing death. The only chance for
survival in the case of SCA is early CPR and defibrillation within 6 minutes of the initial onset
of symptoms. Choking is another medical situation in which oxygen is kept from the brain and
other functions of the body. The chances of survival beyond 4-6 minutes without oxygen
diminish drastically.
Each of these fire and EMS conditions is the most serious of all. The fire and ems
services are not able to control the notification of the emergency service at the exact second
that a fire begins or a cardiac arrest occurs. Recognition of either of these events and many
others is extremely variable. Once the fire and EMS service is notified, the exact second, begins
the sequence of events within the control of the service. The dispatch has to answer the phone
quickly, process the call and transmit quickly and accurately within a 1-1 ½ minutes. Fire and
EMS personnel have to ‘gear up’ and ‘turnout’ within a 1-1 ½ minutes. Once on the road the
units do have some variables such as traffic, weather and road conditions to contend with
however they must travel quickly and safely to the scene for a 4 minute or less travel time in
order to arrive in 6 minutes. This response scenario is in accordance with the internationally
recognized National Fire Protection Association thru standards 1221 and 1710 and the
American Heart Association.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 45
Prior studies of the FFRD did present information to guide leaders of the community
toward the importance of these standards and how the community could help itself. The MMA
study laid a foundation for the need as well as some rudimentary distance measures.
The Pyrotech study presented fairly precise computer modeling of response times and
calculations of road miles covered in less than 6 minutes. Pyrotech’s study calculations were
overzealous and slightly inaccurate. The study presented a 1 minute dispatch and turnout
standard and a 5 minute travel time. The dispatch/turnout time in reality, and in NFPA
standards, is nearer 2 to 2 ½ minutes thereby the travel time would need to be reduced by 1
minute or more. This would create a larger area on the Pyrotech maps to represent the over 6
minute areas and lessen the road miles covered. This report is skewed to a ½ mile or more. The
study did clearly and definitively present the first computer modeling of response times. The
modeling closely matches the findings of actual FFRD response times.
This research project brought together the technical skills of the town’s computer and
GIS department to track and calculate the overall response times of the FFRD. This information
provided the ability to gauge how well the department was doing against NFPA 1221 and 1710
but most importantly how well the department was responding to the citizens in need within the
community.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 46
The research data revealed that the FFRD was able to respond within 6 minutes to 87%-
90% of the responses over the past 15 years. This information is truly a benchmark that nearly
meets the standards and also provides the best patient care. However the research did reveal
some matters of concern. The #1 and #2 fire stations were effective nearly 95% within 6
minutes. This statistic skews the performance of the other 3 districts. #3 and #4 districts
responded in an admirable 80% to 85% while the #5 district only responded to incidents in 6
minutes or less for 70% to 76% of the incidents. Clearly there is an issue somewhere. The issue
is the clear and present need for an additional fire/rescue station in the geographic center of the
town. A general location for such a station would need to be in the center of the area that has
extended response times. Locations within a quarter mile of Coonamessett Pond in Hatchville
would appear to be most efficient.
Statistical analysis also reveals a .3% decline from 87.6% to 87% sub 6 minute response
time for emergency calls between years 1999/2004 and 2009 despite a 500 and 1200 call
increase. The performance for 1994 was at the 90% level which meets the recommended
standards. Between 1994 and 2009 there was a 3% decrease in performance with a 57%
increase in calls. Although these numbers are near enough to be a statistical aberration there is
reason to believe that as the number of calls increase so do the number of over 6 minutes
responses due in part to resource depletion. Simply put, with more calls there aren’t enough
emergency units near enough to respond signifying a need for more resources. In order to
increase 2009 performance levels to 90% over 171 emergency calls more calls would need to
be covered in less than 6 minutes. In 2009 there were 240 calls generated in the Hatchville area
with an over 6 minute response time. In 1995 Pyrotech reported 253.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 47
Evaluation of the use of any neighboring communities to increase performance levels is
reasonable. The closest Town of Bourne Fire Department station is over 9 miles. Massachusetts
Military Reservation Fire Department is approximately 2.5 miles from Falmouth’s northern
border and has to pass thru a locked gate. Mashpee Fire Department is also 2.5 miles from the
Falmouth’s Hatchville area. Currently Mashpee and Falmouth do have an Automatic Line
Response Agreement. Theoretically MFD could respond in 6 minutes to nearly ½ of the
Hatchville area however delay in radio communications reduces turnout time significantly. MFD
also has a significant amount of incidents reducing their ability to be a reliable resource.
Basically, the community of Falmouth needs to take care of its own recognized needs in the
matter of emergency services.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 48
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The Falmouth Fire Rescue Department must evaluate response times on a continuing basis.
Reports of these response times should be generated and published to the emergency personnel
and citizens of the community on an annual basis. A 90% performance objective for emergency
responses under 6 minutes should be met.
2. Call processing times should be recorded and a report generated monthly for review by FFRD
administration.
3. A “Standard of Cover” should be initiated according the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
Once a “Standard of Cover” is established then an entire self assessment of the FFRD should be
initiated, according to CPSI, in preparation for national accreditation.
4. The Town of Falmouth, Ma. should establish an emergency fire and medical unit in the
Hatchville area of the community within 1 year. Incidents within this area have matched and
exceeded areas of town with a long established emergency unit.
5. The FFRD should examine the 1994 and 2007 Insurance Service Offices reports. Areas of
deficiencies and strengths should be noted. Strengths should be bolstered and deficiencies
improved.
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 49
REFERENCES
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RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 50
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RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 51
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RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 52
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RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 53
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RESPONSE TIME ANALSYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 55
APPENDIX A
Response Time Program
Example for May 31, 2009
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 56
Appendix B
NFPA Cascade of Events
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 57
Appendix C
NFPA Fire Propagation Curve
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 58
Appendix D
NIST Flashover 540 seconds (9 min) after ignition
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 59
Appendix E
American Heart Association SCA Chance of Survival
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 60
Appendix F
Ulstein Cardiac Resuscitation Attempts Event Chart
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 61
Appendix G
Ulstein II Data reporting on Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 62
Appendix H
Pyrotech Modeling: Station Response Area w/ Mashpee Automatic Line Response
(Black area = 6 plus minute response)
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 63
Appendix I
Pyrotech Modeling: Falmouth Only Station Response (Black Area= 6 plus min.)
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 64
Appendix J
Pyrotech Modeling: Falmouth Only First-In Company by Time Increments
(Black area=6 plus min. response)
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 65
Appendix K
Pyrotech Modeling: Falmouth Only w. Hatchville Station by Time Increments
(Black = over 6 min. response)
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 66
Appendix L
Falmouth Fire Rescue 2005 Response Map
RESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS FALMOUTH FIRE 67
Appendix M
Falmouth Fire Rescue 2009 Response Map