A Composite Approach For Site Optimization Of Fire Stations

Abstract

The number of fire incidences has increased as a result of Libya's rapid and continuous growth. The growing population in Misurata, the third largest city in Libya and the expansion of industrial facilities both have a hand in the rise in fire incidents. The capabilities available to handle these accidents are limited. One of the biggest challenges is probably the dispersed location of fire stations, which slows down reaction times because it can take an hour for rescue personnel to reach the scene. This study intends to offer decision-makers a model for determining the ideal location of fire stations, using a hybrid FUCOM-COCOSO approach, and apply the model to optimize the location of a fire station in Misurata. The alternatives were compared using six criteria, which were established based on previous research and expert opinions. High population density had a weight of 0.348, making it the most significant factor, and distance from current fire stations had a weight of 0.217. As these sites are dispersed throughout the city, four prospective locations were analyzed to implement a new station. The results indicate that the ideal station must be close to the city's industrial region. This is as a result of its proximity to the city's industrial complex and to densely populated areas. Similar results were obtained by the proposed method, and five other methods.