US urban fire service and the green infrastructure paradigm

The risk of urban fires has declined steadily for decades due to improved technology, better building practices, and safer consumer products; yet fire departments continue to expand, hiring more full time firefighters and building new fire stations. In response to changing demand, fire departments have begun to alter their service delivery models. This report applies an innovative “green infrastructure” approach to examining fire service. This report uses the GI paradigm, coupled with the history and current state of urban fire service to recognize and highlight new ways that fire services are or can respond to changing service demands, institutional and political challenges, and progressively restricted budgets. The planning recommendations proposed in this report exemplify the opportunities for planning interventions that could improve contemporary fire service and continue the shift to a new paradigm of effective and efficient—or green–service delivery.Community and Regional Plannin