Rapid intervention vehicles' impact on fire departments' response time
International Journal of Emergency Services
ISSN: 2047-0894
Article publication date: 27 September 2022
Issue publication date: 30 May 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to estimate the effect of rapid intervention vehicles (RIVs)’ impact on fire department (FDs)' response time.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed multivariate regression analysis of changes in response times before and after introducing RIVs into the FD task force, controlling for expected travel time. Response time analysis based on the database of all emergency fire responses in Norway from 2016 to 2021 was carried out.
Findings
Introducing RIVs into the FDs' task force reduced response times by 53 s on average for every call where an RIV is being deployed, given an average driving length of an emergency call of 6.4 kilometers. The response time is reduced to approximately 37 s independently of driving length, and this effect increases with 2.5 s per km.
Originality/value
Precise estimation of the expected reduced response time was calculated by introducing the first RIV into the FD's task force based on advanced statistical analysis on complete emergency register data. The analysis shows that RIVs have a positive impact on response time in both urban and rural areas, while particularly strong for urban areas.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research and evaluation have been funded by Gjensidigestiftelsen. The funding is part of a four year long external evaluation, performed by Menon Economics of Gjensidigestiftelsen’s gift program to Norwegian FDs (2018–2021). The authors are employed by Menon Economics. The RIVs granted by Gjensidigestiftelsen to Norwegian FDs are only one part of the full gift program, which also includes measures such as water surface rescue training and financial support of collaboration on preventive measures between municipal health services and local FDs. Gjensidigestiftelsen is the largest Norwegian financial foundation – established in 2007 as a charitable foundation, then converted into a financial foundation prior to the listing of Gjensidige Forsikring ASA in 2010. The foundation’s non-profit objective is to promote health and safety through charitable donations. Such donations are made in accordance with the foundation’s fundamental values, which are: “Preventive – Developing – Activity creating – Society building”. From its establishment in October 2007 up until 2019, Gjensidigestiftelsen has distributed over NOK 2.4 billion to more than 7,600 projects that promote health and safety initiatives. Gjensidigestiftelsen has provided data on which FDs received RIVs, including contact information. Gjensidigestiftelsen has not been part of the study design, and the authors are fully responsible for the research.
Citation
Guldvik, M.K., Helseth, A. and Grimsby, G. (2023), "Rapid intervention vehicles' impact on fire departments' response time", International Journal of Emergency Services, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 29-37. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJES-05-2022-0022
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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