Visual Pre Plans for Fire Departments: Plan Fast, Respond Smarter

In emergency response, every second counts. Fire departments need fast, reliable access to building pre plans to make informed decisions in the field. That’s why Visual Pre Plans, part of the ImageTrend Platform, is transforming the way first responders prepare for and manage incidents.

What Are Visual Pre Plans?

Visual Pre Plans is a cloud-based solution that provides real-time access to critical building data, site hazards, and response details. This tool allows emergency responders to create, update, and share pre-plans seamlessly—ensuring teams arrive on scene with the information they need to act quickly and effectively.

Unlike traditional paper pre plans that can become outdated or lost, Visual Pre Plans ensures up-to-date, accurate information is always at your fingertips, whether viewed through a mobile device, tablet, or web browser. By leveraging this technology, fire departments can streamline pre-planning and improve incident outcomes.

Key Benefits of Visual Pre Plans

Visual Pre Plans provide firefighters with a streamlined, digital approach to pre-planning that enhances preparedness, ensures faster response times, and improves overall safety.

Below are some of the key benefits this solution offers:

• Fast & Easy Pre-Planning – Complete building pre plans in minutes, not hours, with an intuitive interface that simplifies data entry and updates. Firefighters can quickly capture images, annotate hazards, and input key building details from the field.
• Live Dispatch Integration – Seamlessly connect pre plans to CAD systems, giving responders instant access to building layouts, fire hydrant locations, and known hazards the moment a call comes in.
• Situational Awareness in the Field – Using smart mapping tools, responders can quickly view annotated images, hazard markers, and floor plans to improve decision-making and safety on scene. Key hazards such as locked doors, gas shutoff locations, and stairwells are clearly marked for rapid identification.
• Mutual Aid & Auto Aid Sharing – Visual Pre Plans enable cross-agency collaboration, ensuring that mutual aid partners can access shared pre plans when responding to incidents in neighboring jurisdictions. This real-time information sharing strengthens coordinated response efforts.
• Hazardous Materials Identification – Integrates Tier II hazmat facility data, allowing responders to assess potential chemical risks before arriving at the scene. Emergency responders can access NIOSH pocket guides and ERG information for safe decision-making.
• ISO Score Improvement – Maintaining up-to-date pre plans helps departments improve their ISO ratings, leading to better risk assessment and potential insurance benefits for their communities.

How Visual Pre Plans Work in Action

Real-world emergencies require split-second decisions based on accurate, up-to-date information. 

Visual Pre Plans support fire department teams in the field by providing real-time insights. Imagine responding to a fire at a commercial building—your team can:

• Pull up the pre plan instantly from dispatch notifications.
• View hydrant locations and confirm available water supply.
• Analyze floor plans and entry points before arriving on scene.
• Access hazardous materials data for safety precautions.
• Coordinate response efforts with mutual aid departments using shared preplans.
• Quickly assign and complete pre plan updates with built-in tracking tools that keep information current.

Optimizing Your Pre Plan Workflow

Pre-planning is an essential but often time-consuming process for fire departments. Without a structured workflow, keeping pre plans updated and ensuring department-wide consistency can be challenging.

Visual Pre Plans provide your organization with the ability to:

• Automate pre-plan assignments by station or personnel.
• Track completion progress through an administrative dashboard.
• Ensure annual ISO compliance with automated review reminders.
• Standardize pre plan data collection across all firehouses in a department.

By digitizing and centralizing pre plans, agencies can operate more efficiently and improve firefighter safety by ensuring crews have the right information before arriving at a scene.

The Future of Emergency Response Planning

As emergency response challenges grow and fire safety needs evolve, technology-driven solutions like Visual Pre Plans will play a critical role in enhancing preparedness, response efficiency, and firefighter safety.

With its real-time data accessibility, seamless agency collaboration, and advanced situational awareness tools, Visual Pre Plans is shaping the future of emergency response planning.

Want to see how Visual Pre Plans can transform your response strategy? Schedule a demo today to explore the benefits firsthand.