56 / 260
42
TABLE 5-1: Average Response Times of First Arriving Unit, by Service Area and
Call Type (Minutes)
MHFD
Call Type
Dispatch Turnout Travel
Total
Number of Calls
EMS
0.5
1.6
3.6
5.7
1,844
MVA
0.6
1.7
3.9
6.5
135
EMS Total
0.5
1.6
3.7
5.7
1,981
False alarm
0.7
1.9
3.9
6.5
180
Good intent
0.9
1.7
4.6
7.3
26
Hazard
0.8
1.9
4.5
7.2
71
Outside fire
0.8
1.9
3.9
6.7
47
Public service
0.8
1.9
4.5
7.2
245
Structure fire
1.1
2.2
2.1
5.3
3
Fire Total
0.8
1.9
4.3
7.0
572
Automatic aid
0.6
1.0
7.5
9.1
5
Total
0.5
1.7
3.8
6.0
2,558
SSCCFD
Call Type
Dispatch Turnout Travel
Total Number of Calls
EMS
0.7
1.7
6.1
8.5
731
MVA
1.0
2.3
6.0
9.3
264
EMS Total
0.8
1.9
6.0
8.7
995
False alarm
1.2
2.4
5.8
9.3
73
Good intent
1.1
2.4
7.5
11.0
36
Hazard
0.9
2.4
7.5
11.7
40
Outside fire
1.3
3.1
7.2
11.7
77
Public service
1.0
1.9
6.9
9.8
61
Structure fire
1.5
3.3
7.5
12.4
18
Fire Total
1.2
2.5
7.0
10.7
305
Automatic aid
0.8
2.3
7.1
10.3
192
Total
0.9
2.1
6.4
9.3
1,492
The 90th percentile measurement, often referred as a “fractile response,” is a more conservative
and stricter measure of total response time. Most fire agencies are unable to meet the NFPA
fractile response time standard (60 to 80 second turnout [EMS vs. fire] and 240-second travel
time). Simply explained, for 90 percent of calls, the first unit arrives within a specified time. Table
5-2 shows the 90th percentile response times of CAL FIRE units for the various response
categories.