Abstract:
High-density residential settlements are highly vulnerable to fire hazards due to inadequate supporting
infrastructure, including limited road access, water supply, hydrants, and open spaces. Despite this,
studies evaluating the effectiveness of fire protection systems in residential areas with relatively lower
population density remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the condition of site infrastructure,
analyze the effectiveness of the environmental fire protection system, and identify the relationship
between site infrastructure and the effectiveness of the environmental fire protection system in Sei
Rengas Permata Subdistrict, Medan Area District. A mixed-methods approach was employed,
incorporating field observations, semi-structured interviews, documentation, and a scoring-based
assessment using the aspects of availability, condition, and compliance with established standards. The
findings indicate that Sei Rengas Permata Subdistrict achieved an average effectiveness score of 2.49,
which falls within the effective category. Communication facilities received the highest score (3.00),
while water supply sources recorded the lowest score (2.08). The analysis further reveals that building
layout, neighborhood access roads, accessibility to fire stations, open spaces, water supply sources,
yard hydrants, and communication facilities are interrelated in supporting the effectiveness of the
environmental fire protection system. In contrast, the close spacing between buildings in several
locations has the potential to accelerate fire spread. Therefore, improving the quality of the
environmental fire protection system requires an integrated approach through the optimization of all
site infrastructure components to enhance the resilience of residential areas against fire hazards. |
