In light of the growing trend of urbanization, the importance of safety measures has become increasingly evident. The inefficiency of fire services and the rising risks of fires have posed significant challenges for cities regarding emergency warning and response. Fire stations, as locations for the deployment and housing of fire and rescue vehicles, are among the critical service centers in urban areas. Given the complexity of urban spaces, scientifically selecting locations and planning the layout of fire stations has become essential. To enhance public safety and address risks from rapid urban development, optimizing multi-criteria decision-making for fire station site selection is essential for improving emergency response efficiency and minimizing economic losses and costs.
This research utilizes a descriptive-analytical methodology and is categorized as applied research. The data required for this study has been divided into two sections: first, the criteria for site selection of fire stations were extracted from library resources. Subsequently, documents and maps related to the city of Shiraz were collected and analyzed by local organizations. For data analysis and identifying optimal locations, the site selection criteria were weighted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and the Expert Choice software. To determine the weights of the criteria, pairwise comparisons were made with the participation of specialists (including 7 individuals with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Fire Department, 12 individuals from the Urban Planning and Architecture Department with degrees ranging from bachelor’s to doctorate, and 1 person with a master’s degree from the Crisis Management Organization, specializing in Urban Planning, Design, and Management, Architecture, Safety, and Crisis Management, who are serving in the municipality of Shiraz and were surveyed in the analytical hierarchy process). This was achieved by developing 20 questionnaires and fuzzy logic to analyze overlaps and reduce inaccuracies in the data. Then, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and fuzzy logic, thematic maps were prepared, and the layers of the weighted criteria were overlaid to identify optimal locations for establishing fire stations. Finally, these locations were evaluated from a crisis management perspective. The population criterion ranked first, followed by compatible land use, coverage, accessibility, and incompatible land use.
Social justice in the spatial distribution of fire stations is crucial. In urban planning, the spatial distribution of fire stations should cover all areas of the city and facilitate rapid access for emergency responders to any point within the city. Studies on the spatial distribution of fire stations often utilize indicators such as the population served and the operational radius of the stations. From a geographical perspective, the number and distribution of fire stations indicate the accessibility of emergency services to incidents and victims. A fair dispersion of fire stations examines their locations within the city and identifies sensitive areas in need of protection based on the distribution of the population across the city. These stations require optimized distribution to ensure timely response to incidents and provide adequate safety services to citizens. Choosing the right location for fire stations is highly significant, as it can directly affect their efficiency and effectiveness.
The analysis of existing centers and optimal locations revealed that out of 23 stations, 9 are poorly positioned—6 are in fairly unsuitable conditions and 14 are in optimal locations. To improve efficiency and service delivery, it is recommended to establish 6 new stations based on regional needs. Relocating 3 existing stations and adding new ones will help us achieve an optimal state. Analyses show that the fire stations in Zones 3 and 8 of Shiraz are optimally located for improved crisis management. However, in Zone 6, due to the tall buildings, there is a need for optimal site selection in the southeastern area between Aryan Town and the Mahallati and Dinkani highways, although the high land values hinder this effort. In Zone 7, the current station should be relocated to Zone 11. Zone 9 requires the establishment of new stations, while the existing stations in this zone and Zone 4 are well-located. The less desirable stations in the north and south of Shiraz are maintained for strategic reasons. Given the geographical and social structure of Shiraz, as well as its municipal revenue sources, planning for fire services is essential. According to statistics from the Shiraz Fire Department for 2016, the average response time to incidents is 6 minutes and 16 seconds, which exceeds the standard. The ideal response time for emergency responders is set between 3 and 5 minutes, with the effective range of a fire station set between 1,500 and 2,500 meters. To enhance service coverage, a maximum accessibility time of 5 minutes and a range of 2,500 meters should be established as benchmarks to address deficiencies, ensuring that emergency responders can access incident sites within a maximum of 5 minutes, taking traffic conditions into account.