BOOKS OF RtfiDIfGS - PAHO/WHO

- 302
Multi-objccuve Maximal Covering and Fire Station Locatimo FACILITY
Iri thc past year we have bcen assisting the fire department of the LOCATION
city of Baltimore in planning its future system configuration. Thc
National Board of Fire Underwiiters (now tihe Insurance Services Organization)
has stated guidelines lor fire protection (391 that arc similar
to those given by the EMIS regulations except that they are given
in teirms of distance. The fire siandards are absoluitc: they do not
include thie 95-percent specification thlat gives the EMS standards
their realistic flcxibility. In practicc, however, it is accepted that
absolute attainment of the standards is not within reach; thus the
maximal covering model is appropriate and useful in this setting.
Althiough thc fire standards are expressed for coverage of property.
coverage of the population is anothler obvious objectivc. The
fire hazard to population and thie fire hazard to property. determined
as the product of population (ur property valuc) anid fie fre frtlcecy
for subarcas of the city, constitutic still other mncasures againllst whi:
to gauge coverage. Coverage ol fires, as reflected in fire frcquncicy, is
also an important ofjective. These issues wcre worked out in consultation
with the firc