Square-Root Laws for Fire Company Travel Distances

Peter Kolesar, Edward H. Blum

ResearchPublished 1975

An inverse square-root function is developed for the relation between average response distance and the number of locations at which fire companies are stationed in a region. Analysis of theoretical models, simulation data, and empirical measurements are used to confirm the square-root model. The square-root response distance model can be combined with relations between response distance and travel time to yield simple functions for predicting average travel times. Such models may then be employed as aids in the resolution of planning problems important to the management of urban fire departments. Our results can be used to find optimal allocations of fire companies given resource constraints and response time standards, or to describe the response time consequences of proposed allocation plans.

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1975
  • Pages: 74
  • Document Number: R-895-NYC

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Kolesar, Peter and Edward H. Blum, Square-Root Laws for Fire Company Travel Distances. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1975. https://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R0895.html.
BibTeX RIS

This publication is part of the RAND report series. The report series, a product of RAND from 1948 to 1993, represented the principal publication documenting and transmitting RAND's major research findings and final research.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.