The online census database provides a current directory of the fire departments registered with the census as well as some basic information about each one. The USFA is working to encourage more fire departments to participate in the census. In September 2002, additional census forms were mailed to fire departments that have not already responded to the census.
The purpose of the census is to create a national database for use by USFA, our colleagues in the fire protection and prevention communities, allied professions and the general public. USFA will use the database to conduct special studies to guide program decision-making and to improve direct communication with individual fire departments.
In addition to collecting the names and addresses of fire departments across the country, the survey queried fire departments about their capabilities, population and area protected, number of personnel, and specialized services. In the future, the USFA plans to release summaries of this information but in order to increase the validity of the consolidated data more fire department participation is needed.
What is Geocoding? Geocoding is term used to describe the act of address matching. Geocoding is the process of finding a geographic location (x, y point) for an address (such as street number and name, city, state, and ZIP Code) on a map. Geocoding is based off the typical address scheme for the US, in which one side of the street contains even house numbers while the other side of the street contains odd house numbers.
The geocoding process uses an algorithm to find the geographic location of addresses. First, a street segment is identified using the zip code and street name. Next, the geographic location of the address is matched using the building number to determine how far down the street and on which side of the street the building is located.
Geocoding Accuracy The locational accuracy of geocoded addresses may vary from urban to rural areas due to the algorithm used to generate the geographic locations of addresses. The algorithm assumes that the size of parcels are equivalent along a road route. This assumption tends to be more consistent in urban areas, where the size of parcels vary less than in rural areas. Consequently, the results of geocoded addresses in urban areas are usually more reliable than those in rural areas.
For example, the locational accuracy of rural addresses can be slightly off because some parcels along a rural route may be 15 acres while others may be 2.5 acres, but the geocoding algorithm assumes that the addresses are distributed evenly along the route.
A note about data scale:
Scale is an important factor in data usage. Certain scale datasets are not suitable for some project, analysis, or modeling purposes. Please be sure you are using the best available data.
1:24000 scale datasets are recommended for projects that are at the county level. 1:24000 data should NOT be used for high accuracy base mapping such as property parcel boundaries. 1:100000 scale datasets are recommended for projects that are at the multi-county or regional level. 1:125000 scale datasets are recommended for projects that are at the regional or state level or larger.
Vector datasets with no defined scale or accuracy should be considered suspect. Make sure you are familiar with your data before using it for projects or analysis. Every effort has been made to supply the user with data documentation. For additional information, see the References section and the Data Source Contact section of this documentation. For more information regarding scale and accuracy, see our webpage at: <http://geoplan.ufl.edu/education.html>
About the National Fire Department Census: <http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/census/about.cfm>
Yellow Pages website: www.yellowpages.com Super Pages website: www.superpages.com
46 Different Sources Comprise the Fire Stations Dataset.
The following Sources were either reprojected to the FGDL Albers NAD83 HPGN map projection or if no spatial data existed they were geocoded to a statewide 2007 TelAtlas Streets dataset.
Once the point sources were created via geocoding or reprojected existing point data they were merged into one statewide layer.
Record (facility) duplications were removed by manually viewing and editing the statewide layer's attribute table for each of the 67 counties. Where record duplication existed source information of previously corrected FDOT Districts and Regional Planning Council data took preference followed by, County data, and finally geocoded data.
Below are the data Sources as described in the Source field in the attribute table.
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BAY COUNTY DATA:
<http://www.pcbaygis.com/downloads/downloads.html>
Facilities Fire Stations fire_stations.zip fire_stations.pdf
Description: Location of county and city fire stations within Bay County as of October 4, 2005, consisting of 27 points.
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_North_FIPS_0903_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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BROWARD COUNTY DATA:
Email Tami Price TPRICE@broward.org GIS Section Planning Services Division Urban Planning and Redevelopment Department (954) 357-6737
FireRescueStations.shp
October 2006
This data has been verified by Lt. Kane of the Broward Sheriff's Office Fire Rescue
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_East_FIPS_0901_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983_HARN
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CHARLOTTE COUNTY DATA:
Website data out of data contacted through Email:
Bryon F. Catlin, GISP GIS Analyst Charlotte County GIS 18500 Murdock Circle, Rm 229 Port Charlotte, FL 33948 (941) 764-5506 (941) 743-1957 (fax) Bryon.Catlin@charlottefl.com
Fire_Stations.shp 12/18/2007
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_West_FIPS_0902_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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CITRUS COUNTY DATA:
<http://www.citruscountyfl.org/pubsafety/fire/station_locations.htm>
GeoCoded Stations
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CITY OF PENSACOLA DATA:
Fire_Police.shp 1/30/08
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_North_FIPS_0903_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983_HARN
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COLLIER COUNTY DATA:
<http://gis.colliergov.net/Portal2007/Downloads.aspx>
EMS Stations
EMS_STATIONS.shp
4/27/2007
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_East_FIPS_0901_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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Data Transfer Solutions DATA:
DVD
1/18/2007
03_Marion_Fire.shp 01_Flagler_Fire.shp 05_Lake_Fire.shp 02_Volusia_Fire.shp 07_Orange_Fire.shp 06_Seminole_Fire.shp 04_Sumter_Fire.shp 08_Osceola_Fire.shp 09_Brevard_Fire.shp
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_East_FIPS_0901_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
The DTS data was combined to create a district wide layer called: firestat_d5_jan07.shp
The firestat_d5_jan07.shp was added to the statewide layer. A few records were not added to the statewide layer because of the following: AUTOID 305 and 316 are duplicates. 292 was removed because it was a fire college. 370 and 377 are duplicates and both are incorrect - 363 was kept because it is the true Astor fire station as verified by Lake county fire rescue website 249 is a duplicate of 243 250 is an incorrect address as verified by the Volusia County fire department website 378 was removed because it was not verified by county website / gis data. 364 was removed because it was in the wrong location and was a duplicate of 348 386 wsa removed because the location does not exist 329 was removed because it was not verified by the county website / gis data. 376 was removed because it was not verified by the county website / gis data. 464 is a duplicate of 459 453 and 467 are duplicates and both are incorrect, as verified by county fire department website 463 was removed because it was not verified by the county website / gis data. 88 is a duplicate of 51 87 was removed because it was not verified by the county website / gis data. 89 was removed because it was not verified by the county website / gis data. 104 is a duplicate of 103 90 was removed because it was a fire college. 97 was removed because it was a sheriff's Office. 92 was removed because Orange County Fire Rescue took over for Rural Metro Ambulance. Wednesday, March 19, 2008 12:51:15 AM WINTER PARK -- The Orange County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to end its ties with Rural Metro Ambulance. Beginning Oct. 1, Orange County Fire Rescue will take over all transporting services for Rural Metro. 95 was removed because it is the Walt Disney Memorial Cancer Institute at Florida Hospital. 91 was removed because it is the Orlando Regional Medical Center. 94 was removed because it was not verified by the county and city websites.
The firestat_d5_jan07.shp AUTOID numbers can be found in the new statewide layer via the field OLD_AUTOID.
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DEM DATA:
A Few points were grathered from the DEM dataset.
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Direct Contact DATA: These locations were contacted by phone and GeoCoded.
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ECFSP TABULAR DATA: <http://home.cfl.rr.com/scanner/flafdsta.htm>
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY DATA:
EMAIL Jason M. Jones, GIS Analyst Escambia County Planning and Engineering G.I.S. Division 1190 W. Leonard St Pensacola, FL 32501 Office: (850) 595-3463 Fax: (850) 595-3482 jmjones@co.escambia.fl.us
fire_dept_locations.shp June 2004
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_North_FIPS_0903_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983_HARN
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GOOGLE MAPS DATA:
Search Google maps and found addresses, GeoCoded Addresses or used roads/imagers to map location.
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GULF COUNTY DATA:
Gulf County Board of County Commissioners Scott Warner- GIS Technician 1000 Cecil G. Costin, Sr. Blvd Room 311 Port St. Joe, Florida 32456 Office: (850) 229-6145 Fax: (866) 402-1692 Email: gistech@gtcom.net www.gulfcounty-fl.gov
4/17/2007
fire_depts.shp
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_North_FIPS_0903_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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Hernando County DATA:
<ftp://www.hernandocounty.us/planning/Shape%20Library%20(ESRI%20Format>)/
HTTP://WWW.CO.HERNANDO.FL.US/FIREDEPT/
Downloaded fire station address locations then used Parcels to map certain locations. The rest were geocoded.
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DATA: Hillsborough County Planning and Growth Management Department GIS Data Directory
<http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/pgm/resources/publications/gis/gisdatadirectory.pdf>
Shapefile Layers Available for Download @ <ftp://ftp.hillsboroughcounty.org/gis/pub/corporate_data/>
firesta.zip 12/15/2005
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_West_FIPS_0902_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY DATA:
Sutapa Chatterjee Transportation Planner Indian River County MPO County Administration Bldg A 1801 27th Street Vero Beach FL 32960 (772) 226-1689 (O) (772) 978-1806 (F) schatterjee@ircgov.com
fire_stations.shp
11/2/2004
Used Parcels to verify locations
Coordinate system name: Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_East_FIPS_0901_Feet Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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JACKSON COUNTY DATA:
Kevin Standland GIS JCCD 4487 Lafayette Street Marianna, FL 32446 (850) 482-9637 gistech@jacksoncountyfl.com
JC_FirePoliceSchools_point_Merge.shp
02/04/2008
Coordinate system name: *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_WGS_1984
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JACKSONVILLE DATA:
<http://www.coj.net/Departments/Fire+and+Rescue/Emergency+Preparedness/default.htm>
GeoCoded Against TELAtlas Streets Dataset
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LAKE COUNTY DATA:
<ftp://ftp.co.lake.fl.us/GIS/shape_files/>
fire_stations_8_07.shp
10/26/2006
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_East_FIPS_0901_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983_HARN
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LEE COUNTY DATA:
Helena McMullen GIS Data Steward Lee County 1500 Monroe Street, 4th floor Fort Myers, FL 33901 hmcmullen@leegov.com Phone 239-533-8168 <http://leegis.leegov.com>
FireStationLocations.shp
2005
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_West_FIPS_0902_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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LEON COUNTY DATA:
CD
common_places.shp
20050718
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_North_FIPS_0903_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983_HARN
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LOCAL FIRE HOUSE DATA:
Searched website HTTP://WWW.LOCALFIREHOUSE.COM
GeoCoded against TelAtlas Streets Dataset
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MANATEE COUNTY DATA:
EMAIL Jeffrey Pace Spatial Database Manager Geographic Information Services Department 1112 Manatee Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 jeff.pace@mymanatee.org (941)748-4501 x3870
MCGIS_EMS_Fire_Points.shp
20080101
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_West_FIPS_0902_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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MARTIN COUNTY DATA:
<http://ap3server.martin.fl.us:7778/portal/page?_pageid=254,1997328&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL>
Firestations.shp
20011003
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_East_FIPS_0901 *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983_HARN
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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DATA:
Miami-Dade County Fire Station
lfirest.shp
May 20, 2006
Coordinate System: STATEPLANE Zone: 3601 Datum: North American Datum of 1983
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MONROE COUNTY DATA:
<http://monroecofl.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/MonroeCoFL_GIS/index>
CRISTICALFACILITIES.shp
12/15/2005
Coordinate system name: Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_East_FIPS_0901_Feet Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
***********************************************************
NCFRPC DATA:
DVD 5/9/2006
cXX_firesta.shp
FGDL ABLERS NAD83 HARN
The NCFRPC data and the NEFRPC data had been combined previously to create the dataset layer firestat_d2_jun06.shp The firestat_d2_jun06.shp layer was a polygon layer. The polygon layer was converted to points and then joined to the statewide layer. The old AUTOID nunmbers of the firestat_d2_jun06.shp layer can be found in the new statewide layer in the OLD_AUTOID field. Only one point did not transfer over. AUTOID 3 from the firestat_d2_jun06.shp layer was a duplication of the AUTOID 126 and so it was removed from the statewide layer.
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NEFRPC DATA:
DVD
nefrc_regional_fire_stations_polys_final_05_30_2006.shp
060106
Parcel Centroids
FGDL ABLERS NAD83 HARN
The NCFRPC data and the NEFRPC data had been combined previously to create the dataset layer firestat_d2_jun06.shp The firestat_d2_jun06.shp layer was a polygon layer. The polygon layer was converted to points and then joined to the statewide layer. The old AUTOID nunmbers of the firestat_d2_jun06.shp layer can be found in the new statewide layer in the OLD_AUTOID field. Only one point did not transfer over. AUTOID 3 from the firestat_d2_jun06.shp layer was a duplication of the AUTOID 126 and so it was removed from the statewide layer.
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OKALOOSA COUNTY DATA:
<ftp://ftpgis.co.okaloosa.fl.us/public/Shape%20Files/Service_Facility>
cfspt.shp
20061004
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_North_FIPS_0903_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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ORANGE COUNTY DATA:
<ftp://ftp.onetgov.net/divisions/Infomap/pub/GIS_Downloads/>
Fire_Stations_Countywide.shp
20070718
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_East_FIPS_0901_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
***********************************************************
PALM BEACH COUNTY DATA:
<ftp://ftp.co.palm-beach.fl.us/>
eng.zip
2/21/2008
LANDMARKS.shp
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_East_FIPS_0901_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983_HARN
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PARCEL DATA: Took parcel data which described fire station and placed centroid in polygon.
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PASCO COUNTY DATA:
<http://www.pascocountyfl.net/devser/sd/survey/surveyweb/GisMaps/default.html>
FireStations.shp
3/14/2006
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_West_FIPS_0902_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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PINELLAS COUNTY DATA:
<http://gis.pinellascounty.org/gisData/gisDataSets.aspx>
Parcels Parcel Base data in Shapefile format. Refer to the parcel_metadata.doc. Also included are listings of municipal codes, existing land use codes and future land use codes. SHP Data is provided at a Countywide Scale - Last Updated: 2/16/2008 SHP Parcels - (37.3 MB)
Used NOTE1 field to determine Fire Stations.
Projection: Florida West State Plane; Horizontal datum: NAD27 (North American Datum of 1927); Unit of measure: U.S. foot
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POLK COUNTY DATA:
<ftp://www.polk-county.net/Customer08/Emergency> gisdata, data
Firestations100507.shp
10/05/07
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_West_FIPS_0902_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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SANTA ROSA COUNTY DATA:
Email Brandon W. Knuth Computer Support/Network Specialist Santa Rosa County BOCC Computer/GIS Department Office #: 850-983-1949 Cell #: 850-393-4144 Fax #: 850-983-1861 brandonk@santarosa.fl.gov <http://www.santarosa.fl.gov/>
FireStation.shp
2001
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_North_FIPS_0903_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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SARASOTA COUNTY DATA:
<http://gis.co.sarasota.fl.us/data_download_page.asp>
Fire Stations
FIRESTATIONS.shp
12/30/2007
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_West_FIPS_0902_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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SEARCH TALLAHASSEE DATA:
HTTP://SEARCH.TALLAHASSEE.COM
GeoCoded agaginst TelAtlas Streets Dataset
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SEMINOLE COUNTY DATA:
<http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/it/gis/layerbib2.asp>
seminolefire.shp
20050629
Coordinate system name: Projected coordinate system name: State Plane *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY DATA:
Email James Voss St. Lucie County GIS Department 772-462-1858 vossj@stlucieco.gov
St.LucieCounty_Critical_Facilities.shp
20060622
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_East_FIPS_0901_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
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SUPERPAGES DATA:
Searched for Fire Stations and Fire Departments
Created Text document from results via copy paste.
GeoCoded against Tel ATLAS
*********************************************************** USFA
<http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/census/states.cfm>
Downloaded FLorida info and geocoded against Tel Atlas Roads dataset.
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VOLUSIA COUNTY DATA:
<http://volusia.org/gis/download/shapes.htm>
FACILTIY.shp
2/6/2005
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Florida_East_FIPS_0901_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983_HARN
***********************************************************
WALTON COUNTY DATA:
<http://gisftp.co.walton.fl.us/>
Points of Interest.zip Walton_Fire_Stations.shp
20070914
Coordinate system name: *Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_North_FIPS_0903_Feet *Geographic coordinate system name: GCS_North_American_1983
***********************************************************
YELLOWPAGES DATA:
Searched for Fire Stations and Fire Departments
Created Text document from results via copy paste.
GeoCoded data to TelAtlas streets ***********************************************************
-Upper cased all records. -Added DESCRIPT field based on NAME -Socio-Cultural Effect data fields and definitions were added. FLAG, UPDATE_DAY, AUTOID, NAME, ADDRESS, CITY, ZIPCODE, OPERATING, OP_CLASS, SERVICES, COMMON_USE USE, YR_BUILT, FGDLAQDATE.