COV-FCE-Based Evaluation of Old Community Fire Resilience: A Case Study of Xuzhou City, China

Fire incidents pose a significant threat to urban communities. However, the inherent vulnerability of old communities to fire incidents is often overlooked, resulting in a lack of targeted evaluation methods for old community fire resilience (OCFR). Therefore, this study aims to propose a comprehensive evaluation model to systematically measure the level of OCFR. Initially, an evaluation indicator system for the OCFR was developed based on the pressure–state–response (PSR) model and 4M (man, machine, media, management) theory. Subsequently, an integrated evaluation model combining the coefficient of variation (COV) and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) approach was established to ensure objective weighting and reliable assessment. Finally, the Community W in Xuzhou City of China was selected as a typical case, and data from 210 valid resident questionnaires were utilized to evaluate its OCFR and propose targeted improvement strategies. The key findings indicate that the ‘state’ dimension holds the largest weight, with the top-weighted indicators being OCFR210 (firefighting investment development), OCFR211 (disaster prevention education and publicity), and OCFR214 (emergency rescue organization and management). The OCFR score for Community W was 70.256, placing it in the ‘good’ level. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis revealed the robustness of the evaluation model for OCFR. This research not only introduces a novel evaluation model that expands the body of knowledge on fire resilience but also provides practical strategies to mitigate fire risks and enhance fire management in old communities, with the ultimate goal of reducing community fire incidents.