Each EMS, Fire or Other call is dispatched to an identified address or location. FEMS uses Wards, “Battalions,” and “Engine Company” locations to track call volume. There are 33 Engine Companies (fire stations) across the District of Columbia. Each fire station houses at least one fire engine, one ambulance and other emergency vehicles. Each fire station has a pre-defined “first response” area. This first response area is the geographic area where emergency vehicles housed in the fire station are most likely to arrive first (compared to vehicles from other fire stations), based on call location travel distance. For operational management purposes, Engine Companies are grouped by “Battalions.” There are six Battalions. Each Battalion encompasses all Engine Company first response areas within the Battalion.

The charts below show call volume for the most recently completed fiscal year (October to September). Call Groups include EMS (G1), Fire (G2) and Other (G3), as described by the FEMS call categorization system (please click here to view). Charts include call locations by Ward, Battalion and Engine Company. Differences in call counts by location can be attributed to many factors, including changes in population. Errors in determining call locations, including calls located outside of the District of Columbia, are identified by “NO-ID.”  

The tables below show call volume by call type and Ward, Battalion, and Engine Company locations, by fiscal year. Call Groups include EMS (G1), Fire (G2) and Other (G3). Errors in determining call locations, including calls located outside of the District of Columbia, are identified by “NO-ID.”