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.ORANGE GROVE 1 1 <br /> 'FIREMt.` <br /> Orange Grove Fire Department <br /> 6800 Orange Grove Rd Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> Unclear justification for the investment <br /> • No demonstrated ISO rating improvement or clearly defined community benefit <br /> Response: We understand the desire to see clear justification and measurable community benefit <br /> from any capital investment. The purpose of the Station 2 addition is to maintain and improve <br /> our ability to deliver timely emergency response to the eastern side of the district and to keep the <br /> department positioned to sustain our current service level over time. <br /> ISO rating and what drives it: ISO ratings are based on multiple components-not only a <br /> building project-including how calls are dispatched and communicated, the personnel and <br /> equipment responding to incidents, available water supply, and overall department performance <br /> capabilities. We are evaluated every five years, and maintaining our current rating requires that <br /> we maintain our service level across these areas. The Station 2 project is part of maintaining that <br /> service level by strengthening response coverage and deployment capability; it is not presented <br /> as a single change that guarantees a specific ISO rating increase. <br /> Clearly defined community benefit: Station 2 was originally built in 2012 to meet the needs of <br /> the eastern portion of the district and support the five-mile response travel criteria, because <br /> response time is a key factor in outcomes for fires and medical emergencies. Our incident <br /> records show the highest number of calls occur in the Station 2 service area, and demand is <br /> expected to continue. However, the current Station 2 facility is essentially a garage shell with a <br /> small bathroom and is not suitable for assigning personnel there during peak demand periods, <br /> severe weather standby, or extended operations during disasters. Renovating and adding to <br /> Station 2 will make it a functional station so we can staff it when call volume is highest, <br /> improving deployment and reducing response times for citizens in that part of the district. It also <br /> supports district-wide operations by relieving space and workload pressure at the main station. <br /> This aligns with our long-standing commitment to community response needs, including our first <br /> responder program established in the mid-1980s to assist residents and support OCEMS. <br /> 2 <br />