# Applying Real-Time Travel Times to Estimate Fire Service Coverage Rate for High-Rise Buildings
## 4 Discussion from a National Perspective  
In 2017, there were 6043 high-rise building fires in China, resulting in 102 deaths [42]. As of 2017, there were approximately 347,000 high-rise buildings in China. During the same period, there were a total of 10,840 water fire trucks and 6192 aerial fire trucks (including 2671 water tower fire trucks, 2015 aerial platform fire trucks, and 1506 aerial ladder fire trucks) [42]. From a national perspective, each high-rise building had an average of about 0.031 water fire trucks and an average of about 0.018 aerial fire trucks. However, each high-rise building only had an average of about 0.009 water fire trucks and an average of about 0.008 aerial fire trucks in Changsha. Based on the average number of water fire trucks and aerial fire trucks per high-rise building, the national \(T\)\(E\)\(R\)\(C\), \(\Delta\)\(T\)) should be between 2.25 and 3.44 times that of Changsha. The national \(T\)\(E\)\(R\)\(C\), \(\Delta\)\(T\)) can be estimated to be between 45.97% and 70.27% (the median value is 58.12%).  
\(T\)\(E\)\(R\)\(C\), \(\Delta\)\(T\)) is essentially determined by the spatial distribution of high-rise buildings and the spatial distribution of fire trucks. However, the spatial distribution of high-rise buildings is not consistent with the spatial distribution of fire trucks. In any city or county in China, even if it has few high-rise buildings, it may have at least one fire station equipped with a water fire truck and an aerial fire truck. In some large cities (such as Changsha), there are a lot of high-rise buildings, and also many fire stations, but the average number of fire trucks per high-rise building may be less than in some counties. However, high-rise buildings are mainly distributed in large cities. Therefore, it can be inferred that the actual national \(T\)\(E\)\(R\)\(C\), \(\Delta\)\(T\)) may not exceed 60.00%.  
In summary, only partial high-rise buildings can be effectively covered by fire services, whether in Changsha or China. Considering the low value of \(T\)\(E\)\(R\)\(C\), \(\Delta\)\(T\)) and the increasing number of high-rise buildings, more fire stations equipped with water fire trucks and aerial trucks should be built. Traffic congestion is a key problem in the process of urbanization in China. It can be expected that more high-rise buildings will be effectively covered if traffic congestion is reduced. It will take a long time and a lot of investment to build fire stations and reduce traffic congestion. Before there are sufficient fire-fighting resources (fire stations, water fire trucks, aerial fire trucks, etc.), the fire department can prioritize the deployment of fire trucks to areas with dense high-rise buildings. To prevent fires, people who live or work in high-rise buildings should further enhance the awareness and knowledge of fire safety. In addition, fire hydrants, automatic sprinkler systems, automatic fire alarm systems, smoke protection and exhaust systems, and other fire-fighting facilities should be installed in high-rise buildings according to the fire protection codes and standards.