Block-Unit-Based Method for Delineating Fire Station Response Zones Using Real-Time Traffic Data

Effective delineation of fire station response zones is critical for urban public safety planning, yet traditional methods often fail to account for dynamic traffic conditions, leading to suboptimal resource allocation. This study proposes a novel block unit-based framework that incorporates real-time traffic data to dynamically delineate fire station response zones, improving the scientificity of response time estimation. The framework was validated using data from Daxiang District, China, a typical urban-rural mixed region, encompassing 2,230 block units, 4 fire stations, and 13,097 demand points. Analysis of 1,225,047 data samples revealed an average travel time of 960.7 seconds, highlighting significant accessibility challenges. The re-delineated response zones cover areas ranging from 1.07 to 156.24 km², with significant variations. It is attributed to the concentration of fire stations in urban areas, insufficient coverage of vast rural regions, and the proximity of one station to a river and regional boundary. These findings underscore the spatial inequities in fire service provision and the need for a more balanced resource allocation strategy. Recommendations include establishing rural fire stations, improving urban traffic conditions, and relocating certain fire stations. This approach can enhance regional accessibility and provides a scientific basis for fire service planning.