New York City has made its fire risk inspections about 20% more accurate by using a regression analysis tool to determine which buildings are most vulnerable. The tool assesses more than 7,500 risk factors - including a building's tax status, construction materials and location - using data from 17 agencies and calls to municipal services. The weight assigned to each variable varies in relation to the building and its district's historic fire patterns. Every day, city fire crews receive a list of the top 15 at-risk buildings in their district.

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