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Executive Summary to a new station in the growing, partially incorporated Santa Clara area and 2) the addition of peak-demand ambulances staffed by paramedics who are not cross-trained as firefighters. In the analysis described in Section Three, risk areas are established in two ways. For all emergency services except ambulance transport, the service area is divided into Risk Area "A" (Eugene city limits plus the contiguous and urban River Road Water District) and Risk Area "B" (rural property in the other four special districts served by Eugene under contract). For ambulance transport services, the Ambulance Service Area is divided into three response zones as established in the Lane County Ambulance Service Area Plan in 2004. These areas and zones were then used to analyze response times. Emergency Response Times Response time is typically defined as the time interval between the moment a resource is dispatched and the time it arrives at the incident. "Perceived response time," sometimes known as the "customer interval," from the time an incident is reported, is generally longer, because it also includes the time needed for call processing. While the Eugene Fire & EMS Department does not have direct control over call processing, this aspect of emergency response is included in our analysis because it is part of the customer interval. Public safety industry standards measure response times against a percentile, or a percentage of the calls in which the response time falls within set parameters. By tradition, City administrative order, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, a four-minute travel time standard is recognized. It would not be correct, however, to assume that an area where the four- minute standard is not being met is inherently unsafe. Very few fire departments across the country actually achieve that level of coverage, nor does Eugene. Yet there is abundant evidence to indicate that Eugene's fire, rescue, and emergency medical response system is safe and effective. Based on measurement and analysis of response times and community risk, the department has established response time goals that indicate levels of service that can be expected by members of our community. These are detailed in Section Five. Distribution of Resources The department currently operates from 11 fire stations and deploys from three to six ambulances depending on daily and weekly demand patterns. Current resource distribution concerns are: o The Valley River area has response coverage deficiencies and is an area of considerable risk due to the level of development and existing population density. o Far west Eugene has response coverage deficiencies but currently lacks the level of development and population to justify adding a new station and on-duty response resources. 4