Why a Search on a Known Address May Not Return the Correct Agency

When a user searches for their address on BeforeYouBurn.com, the goal is to connect them with the appropriate fire agency that has jurisdiction over that location.

However, sometimes the search results may not match the agency the user expects. There are a few potential reasons this could happen:

1. The agency does not have zones defined covering their entire area. For example, if a user searches an address in Medford, Oregon, they may expect to be connected with Medford FD. But if Medford FD has not set up a zone on on BeforeYouBurn.com covering that part of their jurisdiction, the search will not know to route the user to them.
2. The agency has exclusion zones that prohibit burning. Many agencies prohibit burning within city limits even though that area falls within their broader district. To handle this, the agency needs to create a specific zone for the exclusion area (like the city perimeter) that is set to "Never" allow burning. That way the system will know burning is not allowed in that zone, while still allowing it in the rest of the district outside that zone.
3. The address falls near a boundary between agencies. If an address is close to the edge of an agency's jurisdiction, it's possible the search could match it just across the line to the neighboring agency if the zones are drawn that way. Checking the address on a map compared to the agency's zones can help clarify if this is the issue.
4. The agency zones need to be updated. As agencies grow and change over time, their jurisdictional boundaries may shift as well. If their zones in BeforeYouBurn.com have not been updated to match, searches could start returning incorrect results. Agencies should periodically review and update their zones to keep them accurate.

If a user feels their search has not matched the right agency for their address, we recommend the following steps:

• Compare your address location on Google Maps with the Agency Zones Map on BeforeYouBurn.com. Zoom in and see if the pin is within the expected agency's coverage area.
• If the address falls outside the agency's zones, contact that agency and inform them their zones need to be updated to include that area. They can add and modify zones themselves through their BeforeYouBurn.com account.
• For exclusion areas like city limits, advise the agency to create a specific zone for that area with burning set to "Never." This will override the broader district allowing burning.
• If the address appears right on the border between zones, it's possible a small adjustment to the zone boundaries could associate the address with the preferred agency.

By keeping agency zones up to date and defining exclusion areas, we can ensure address searches route users to the correct agency with jurisdiction. Communication with agencies is key to resolving any discrepancies. With some minor adjustments, agencies can define zones that accurately reflect their jurisdictions and requirements.

Example Search with no local FD zone coverage: