Scientific Association of Waste Management Human Ecology 3041-9255 4 13 2026 01 21 Evaluating Accessibility of Fire Services for people with Disabilities in Ardabil City Evaluating Accessibility of Fire Services for people with Disabilities in Ardabil City 1648 1659 233746 10.22034/he.2025.553101.1155 FA Ahad Badali Ajirlou Department of Geography and Urban and Rural Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. 0009-0005-5321-754X Alireza Mohammadi Department of Geography and Urban and Rural Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. 0000-0002-3327-0942 Lotfollah Maleki Department of Geography and Urban and Rural Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. 0009-0000-0666-5060 Journal Article 2025 10 13 Spatial equity in access to emergency services particularly fire and rescue services for vulnerable populations is a fundamental pillar of inclusive urban safety and citizenship in contemporary cities. This study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach to evaluate the spatial accessibility of people with disabilities to fire stations in Ardabil city, Iran. The research dataset comprises the geolocated records of 6,586 registered individuals with disabilities from the provincial Welfare Organization, seven operational fire stations, and the city’s road network. Analyses were conducted using Network Analysis, Service Area delineation, and Location-Allocation modeling within a GIS environment. Findings reveal a clustered and uneven spatial distribution of the disabled population across the city: District 4 hosts the highest number (1,967 individuals), while District 3 has the lowest (617 individuals). Notably, District 5 a peripheral and socioeconomically vulnerable area lacks any fire station. Despite this, over 99.8% of individuals with disabilities reside within the standard 7-minute emergency response radius. However, spatial analyses caution that nominal (or apparent) accessibility does not necessarily equate to actual accessibility, as physical, communicative, and institutional barriers can significantly impede effective service delivery. To advance spatial justice and align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the study recommends optimizing fire station locations particularly by establishing a new station in District 5 revising service distribution criteria, and integrating vulnerability-related demographic variables into emergency planning frameworks. Such measures can substantially enhance equitable access to fire and rescue services for all citizens, especially persons with disabilities. Spatial equity in access to emergency services particularly fire and rescue services for vulnerable populations is a fundamental pillar of inclusive urban safety and citizenship in contemporary cities. This study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach to evaluate the spatial accessibility of people with disabilities to fire stations in Ardabil city, Iran. The research dataset comprises the geolocated records of 6,586 registered individuals with disabilities from the provincial Welfare Organization, seven operational fire stations, and the city’s road network. Analyses were conducted using Network Analysis, Service Area delineation, and Location-Allocation modeling within a GIS environment. Findings reveal a clustered and uneven spatial distribution of the disabled population across the city: District 4 hosts the highest number (1,967 individuals), while District 3 has the lowest (617 individuals). Notably, District 5 a peripheral and socioeconomically vulnerable area lacks any fire station. Despite this, over 99.8% of individuals with disabilities reside within the standard 7-minute emergency response radius. However, spatial analyses caution that nominal (or apparent) accessibility does not necessarily equate to actual accessibility, as physical, communicative, and institutional barriers can significantly impede effective service delivery. To advance spatial justice and align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the study recommends optimizing fire station locations particularly by establishing a new station in District 5 revising service distribution criteria, and integrating vulnerability-related demographic variables into emergency planning frameworks. Such measures can substantially enhance equitable access to fire and rescue services for all citizens, especially persons with disabilities. https://www.landscapeecologyjournals.ir/article_233746_6d9816ae49f7f9cdedb3c84279623f38.pdf