The department's overall response time city-wide is six minutes, and for units responding to FSR, residents also see the first fire engine on scene in about six minutes, according to SAFD reports. Coincidentally, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends the first responding unit should make the scene of an emergency within six minutes.
Response times are normally figured through an aggregation of the time it takes a citizen to access 911; the time for the 911 center to take the information, assign, and dispatch the call; and the time it takes for firefighters to turnout and travel to the location of the emergency.
Finesilver Ranch's "first due" engine is dispatched from Station 49 near Mystic Park and Bandera Rds. Apparatus from Station 41 near Tezel and Mainland also respond to FSR for more serious incidents such as house fires.
According to SAFD data provided to WOAI, Station 49's average response time to all calls in their first due area is seven minutes, thirty seconds; Station 41's is nine seconds slower. The FSR Safety Committee learned from an SAFD report that Engine 49's response time to a fire on Sweetwood last month was about six minutes.
Although responses to locations elsewhere in 49's district vary, Finesilver Ranch properties are well-situated for fire protection. Indeed, Stations 49 and 41 are nearly equidistant. Should Station 49 crews be occupied on another call, Station 41's response is presumed to be about the same. Further, the proximity of Station 41, serving as back-up to FSR's primary response station for structure fires, places first due and subsequent apparatus needed for full alarms on scene within the NFPA goal of eight minutes.
WOAI reported gated communities account for delays of up to an additional one minute, 30 seconds. To ensure closed FSR gates introduce as little delay as possible, first responders access the neighborhood by emergency key at the entry pedestal.
Firefighters are well-acquainted with the neighborhood streets as they regularly participate in FSR community activities. The Safety Committee and other neighborhood groups will continue to invite first responders to Finesilver Ranch as appropriate and as emergency calls allow. The gesture is good for community relations, encourages familiarity with neighborhood streets, and should ultimately improve response times.
Firefighters are well-acquainted with the neighborhood streets as they regularly participate in FSR community activities. The Safety Committee and other neighborhood groups will continue to invite first responders to Finesilver Ranch as appropriate and as emergency calls allow. The gesture is good for community relations, encourages familiarity with neighborhood streets, and should ultimately improve response times.
3 comments:
How come the Blue Armor patrol, or Safety Committee volunteers are not directing the traffic flow during a swim meet? The influx of visitors and their cars, combined with the random fashion in which they park creates a potentially dangerous situation for residents driving, and residents who stroll along Finesilver, not to mention the visitors and their children.
Thanks for letting us know about the hazards. I'll look into our options and keep you posted.
Sorry I'm a bit tardy on the update. A committee member observed the intersection at the community center for a time before the swim meet last Tues, 16 June. Traffic was heavy but orderly and all vehicles were legally parked.
Blue Armor Security doubled a patrol to monitor departing traffic at the conclusion of the same meet. No hazardous incidents were reported.
This concludes the "home" season for the swim team, but the safety committee will arrange for traffic monitors in advance next year.
Thanks again for registering your concern.
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