In the News: GFT Builds Virginia’s First Statewide Community Risk Assessment Dashboard

The Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) recently launched Virginia's first statewide community risk assessment dashboard. GFT's Geospatial & Technology Solutions team built the platform on ArcGIS Online, integrating risk indicators, community characteristics, fire service information, and operational data into a single geospatial environment. The platform demonstrates how geospatial technology can move beyond visualization to become a decision-support tool that protects communities by informing resource allocation.

Built to scale alongside VDFP's risk reduction efforts, the dashboard draws on nine community risk assessment profiles aligned with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1300. Fire service leaders now have a centralized, data-driven platform that enables them to spot patterns and direct resources where they are needed most.

To put these tools into immediate practice, VDFP is co-hosting one-day Community Risk Assessment Workshops from October 2026 through January 2027, alongside GFT, Esri, NFPA, and the National Emergency Response Information System. The workshops are designed to equip fire service professionals with the skills and strategies to use the dashboard to reduce risk within their own communities.