Mo.

Building a Fire Evacuation App

Mo/February 28, 2025/6 min read
Building a Fire Evacuation App
The Fire Evacuation App – Designed for Quick and Efficient Response.

Enhancing Emergency Response: Developing a Fire Evacuation App for Schools

Introduction

During a fire evacuation, every second counts. Schools face the daunting task of ensuring everyone—staff, visitors, and students—is safely accounted for during an emergency roll call. Relying on paper lists and outdated approaches often slows the process and opens the door to mistakes.

To tackle this challenge, I helped create a Fire Evacuation App—a standalone iOS tool built for iPads, designed to support fire marshals in tracking who’s safe and who’s still unaccounted for, all in real time during an evacuation. This post dives into why we made it, how it works, and the technology driving it.

Why We Built the Fire Evacuation App

Before this app, schools were stuck with paper records or slow manual checks to keep tabs on who was on-site during an evacuation. The problems were glaring:

  1. Slow Headcounts

    • Fire marshals had to tick names off paper lists by hand—a tedious job open for slip-ups.
    • Printed lists became outdated the moment they were pulled, providing no real-time updates.

  2. Lack of Instant Communication

    • There was no instant alert to kick off an evacuation across systems.
    • Staff and visitors could be left guessing about what was happening.

  3. No Digital Record

    • Schools lacked a way to log evacuation details or generate reports.
    • Without past data, improving future responses was a shot in the dark.

By shifting to a digital, real-time solution, we’ve cleared these hurdles, setting the stage for faster, sharper, and better-documented emergency procedures.

How the Fire Evacuation App Works

The app acts as a fire marshal’s trusty sidekick during an evacuation, keeping tabs on who’s safe as events unfold. It slots neatly into the Sign-in App and Admin Console for a smooth, connected evacuation process. Here’s how it runs:

  1. Starting an Evacuation

    • A fire marshal opens the app on an iPad and triggers the evacuation.
    • Using SignalR for real-time updates, it alerts the Sign-in App and Admin Console that an evacuation’s begun.
    • The Sign-in App displays a warning, urging staff and visitors to head for the nearest exit.

  2. Checking People Off at the Assembly Point

    • Marshals see a live list of everyone signed in—staff and visitors included.
    • As people reach the assembly point, they’re marked ‘accounted for’.
    • Updates sync instantly, avoiding mix-ups or missed names.

  3. Finishing Up and Reporting

    • Once everyone’s accounted for, the marshal ends the evacuation in the app.
    • A report is generated on the spot, covering:
      • Date and time of the evacuation.
      • Total number of people on-site.
      • Count of those accounted for and still missing.
      • Duration of the process.
    • This is saved for future audits and compliance checks.

The Tech Behind It

We built the Fire Evacuation App with a modern, real-time framework to ensure updates flow quickly and data stays secure.

Tech Stack:

  • Frontend: React Native (iOS app for iPads)
  • Backend: C# (.NET)
  • Database: MySQL
  • Real-time Connection: SignalR

Key Features:

  1. React Native (iOS App for iPads)

    • A clean, touch-friendly interface lets marshals mark people off swiftly.
    • Live updates keep the data bang up to date.
    • It works offline too, so marshals can press on even if the connection dips.

  2. C# Backend and MySQL Database

    • A robust API manages evacuation records securely.
    • Past data is stored for later review.
    • Access is restricted to authorised marshals only.

  3. SignalR for Instant Updates

    • It notifies all linked systems the second an evacuation starts.
    • Keeps multiple marshals aligned as they work.
    • Ensures accounted-for lists refresh in real time.

My Role as a Front-End Developer

As the front-end developer on this project, I lead the creation of a responsive, user-friendly iOS interface using React Native, tailored for iPads. My aim was to give fire marshals a tool they could rely on to act quickly and accurately in high-pressure moments.

What I Did:

  1. Crafted a Touch-Friendly Interface

    • I designed a streamlined, touch-optimised UI that lets marshals mark people off with minimal effort. Speed was critical, so I prioritised simple navigation and bold visual cues to cut through evacuation chaos.

  2. Enabled Real-Time Updates

    • Teaming up with a backend developer, I integrated SignalR to deliver live updates. This kept accounted-for lists in sync across multiple marshals, ensuring no one’s overlooked or double-counted.

  3. Built Offline Capability

    • I tackled offline functionality by setting up local data caching. If the network cuts out mid-evacuation, marshals can keep going, with updates syncing once the connection’s back.

  4. Worked Across Teams

    • I collaborated with a C# backend developer to tie the app into the MySQL database via a secure API, ensuring smooth data flow and tight security for authorised users.

Challenges and Achievements:

  • Challenge: Juggling performance and a slick UI under tight deadlines. I tweaked React Native components to keep the app nippy, even on older iPads.
  • Achievement: Watching marshals breeze through roll calls in testing, knowing those saved seconds could make a real difference in a crisis.

My front-end work bridged the app’s real-time core to a practical tool schools can depend on. It’s been gratifying to build something that not only functions well but could genuinely help keep people safe.

Results & Impact

Since launching the Fire Evacuation App, schools have noticed evacuations running more smoothly and efficiently.

  1. Faster, Cleaner Roll Calls

    • Marshals can tick people off on the iPad in a flash.
    • No more faffing with paper or scrambling for info.

  2. Crisp Emergency Alerts

    • The Sign-in App flags evacuations to staff and visitors instantly.
    • The Admin Console offers admins a live overview of progress.

  3. Live and Historical Records

    • Schools can monitor evacuation times and spot patterns.
    • Stored logs make safety audits straightforward.

Conclusion

The Fire Evacuation App has changed school emergency drills, swapping paper clutter for a live, digital solution. With real-time tracking, instant alerts, and automated reports, we’ve:

  • Sped up and sharpened roll calls.
  • Tied together the Sign-in App, Admin Console, and Fire Evacuation App seamlessly.
  • Given schools a clear record of evacuations for compliance and reassurance.