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Comprehensive Plan, City of Paris, Texas <br />Municipal Services and Natural Features <br />Other aspects of fire service within a community may be measured by the proficiency of <br />receiving fire alarms, the adequacy of the local water supply system to deliver needed fire flows, <br />and the effectiveness of local fire prevention programs. Such aspects of Paris's fire service are <br />not the subject of this evaluation, although they are under continual review by City and the fire <br />department. Fire stations are major capital improvements, which will be in use for many years. <br />The location should be selected with care. Professional associations and insurance services <br />active in the delivery of fire services recommend standards for the selection of a site. <br />The following factors were considered in evaluating Paris's fire service distribution: <br />Response Distance The response distance is the recommended maximum distance of <br />response to fires from fire stations, as measured along the City's thoroughfare street system, <br />depending upon the type of use to be protected. "Major risk areas" are distinguished from <br />other areas in the City when evaluating response distances. <br />Natural Barriers Topographical features of a City affect station location. A location at the <br />bottom of a hill is not satisfactory since many responses would have to be made upgrade. <br />Man-Made Barriers Limited access highways and poorly designed streets restrict the <br />accessibility of fire vehicles. Potential delays because of railroad crossings at grade and <br />limited points of highway access must be considered when planning response times. <br />Major Risk Areas Areas where large groups of people gather or live are given consideration <br />in the location of fire stations. Also, facilities of a large scale (based on floor area) and of certain <br />construction types (based on masonry and wood roof as a norm) are considered major risks for <br />fire service delivery. Such facilities may require a fire flow above 3,500 gpm of water. <br />Fire Station Expansion - Site Planning Considerations <br />Any proposed fire station site should be of ample size to provide parking facilities for employees <br />and adequate space for expansion and drills, and located based on the following criteria: <br />• If possible, a site should be selected and the station located so that ingress may be provided at <br />the rear of the station. The lack of a rear entrance necessitates the backing of equipment <br />through the front entrance. <br />o The station should not be on a heavily traveled street because of difficulty and danger in <br />entering the traffic stream. At the same time, the street which offers direct access to and <br />from the station must be of a standazd design, allowing full turning radii for departmental <br />vehicles. <br />Measures of Paris's Fire Service Response Distances <br />The response distances for existing fire service delivery are shown on City of Paris Fire <br />Department maps. Calculated by travel along the City's major thoroughfare system, the <br />response distances are indicated for one and one-half (1-1/2) miles, and two and one-half (2-1/2) <br />miles from the existing fire station. Response distances are compared with a) the over-all built <br />area of the City and b) the major risk areas, both within the City and beyond the corporate limits <br />(for which the City's department has first-due or support service responsibilities). <br />5A98288\WP0tina1 rcpm 2-01.doc 31 BWR <br />