Prepare Fire Pre-Plans and Document Fire Incidents Easily

SmartDraw helps fire departments create clear and accurate fire pre-plans and document fire incidents. From pre-incident planning to post-incident reporting, SmartDraw gives fire crews a faster standardized way to visualize critical information when it matters most.

Make Fire Pre-Plans Easily

SmartDraw makes it simple to create scaled, readable fire pre-plans that clearly show what crews need before they arrive on scene. Simply import a satellite image of your site and then add key details that include exits, fire extinguishers, utility shutoffs, and hazards. No CAD training required.

Fire pre-plan satellite view

Document Fire Incidents Easily

SmartDraw helps fire investigators create accurate documentation for incidents. Capture what happened with diagrams that are clear, precise, and easy to explain. SmartDraw makes it easy to show where the fire started and how is spread including burn patterns and damaged zones. You can show fire alarms, fire suppression, and incident response steps like apparatus placement, hose lines, command posts, and rescue paths.

Fire incident diagram example

Import Google Maps

SmartDraw lets you import Google Maps or satellite images directly into your drawing, set it to any scale, and use it as the foundation for creating your fire pre-plan. Show your crew real-world context before they arrive on scene.

Import Google satellite image

Import Existing Floor Plans

Import existing PDF floor plans or site drawings and draw directly on top while keeping everything the same scale. Save time and work faster without recreating every floor plan from scratch!

Import existing floor plan into work area

NFPA and Other Industry-Standard Symbols

SmartDraw has hundreds of industry-standard fire and NFPA-aligned symbols including symbols for hazardous materials, structural and environmental hazards, fire protection systems, fire department connections, water supplies, shutoff valves, and more. Just drag and drop to add them to plans and documentation.

Industry standard fire and safety symbols

Import Photos

SmartDraw allows you to import photos to document fire incidents to show damage and call-out specific locations or evidence found.

Import images into your work area

Standardize Your Diagrams

Turn your drawings and plans into shared operational language by maintaining consistent report formats across the department, agencies, and shifts. Make it easier for everyone to read documents and plans easily. SmartDraw will help improve operational readiness, reduce risk, and make critical information easier to act on.

Floor plan style fire pre-plan

Measure Distances Accurately with Ease

SmartDraw includes easy-to-use measurement tools so investigators can place objects accurately on fire incident reports and fire pre-plans. Place symbols at exact offsets from walls, curbs, and from other items in a scene. You can also add markings on your diagram to illustrate distances that help your audience understand what happened during an incident or your crew know what kind of access they'll have at a scene.

Measure distance tool

Export to PDF

SmartDraw makes collaboration easy. Share your diagram with anyone, even if they don't own a copy of SmartDraw, with a link.

Export clean, shareable PDFs for tablets, binders, or command vehicles.

Sharing by copying a link

Support Other Departments

In addition to standard fire and rescue content, SmartDraw is great at creating traditional diagrams. For example, HR can use SmartDraw to update organizational charts and document workflows and IT can use SmartDraw to create network and technical diagrams.

Collage of diagrams

See Why Public Safety and Construction Teams Trust SmartDraw

Contact Us

"Before SmartDraw, our reports were created in a mix of Word, PowerPoint, Visio, and paper, leading to inconsistent formats and extra work. SmartDraw gave us a single, standardized platform for accident and incident documentation, making our reports clearer, more consistent, and easier to manage."

Michael Johnson
Battalion Chief, Loudoun Fire and Rescue

"Our design and construction company oversees custom home builds and remodels from initial design to completion. SmartDraw provided an affordable, user-friendly, and efficient tool for making rapid adjustments to floor plans without relying on architects or designers for every minor change. The fast setup and intuitive tools really helped us streamline our workflow."

Jake Goodew
Project Manager, Arete Construction

"The Crime Scene Unit sought to upgrade its diagramming software to enhance the quality of crime scene sketches used as discoverable documents in criminal investigations. After evaluating available options, we determined that SmartDraw best met our needs due to its ability to produce detailed, forensically accurate diagrams that integrate seamlessly with existing scene documentation tools, including photographs and 3D imaging."

Massi A. Martin, DPA
Commanding Officer, Office of Forensic Science, Crime Scene Unit, Philadelphia Police Department

"For pre-incident plans, we're able to create clear, easy-to-follow diagrams with directions and annotations that our firefighters can quickly understand on scene. For investigations, the software lets us produce accurate, professional drawings that support incident reconstruction. Overall, we've been very pleased with SmartDraw and plan to continue using it as part of our daily operations."

Read the full case study.
Jonathan Shim
Captain, Office of the Fire Marshal, Howard County Department of Fire Rescue Services

"SMCFD needed a user-friendly way to create pre-fire plans. SmartDraw allows us to import a PDF and mark it up for utility shutoffs and access points quickly and easily."

Matthew Adelman
Battalion Chief Preparedness, South Montgomery County Fire Department

"As our design services grew, pen and paper simply couldn't keep up. SmartDraw gave us the modern tools we needed for creating space plans and floor plans. It's proven to be a great tool for our sellers to quickly provide customers with feedback on dimensions and fit."

Aaron Schulz
Director of Inside Sales Channels & Sales Operations, National Business Furniture

"SmartDraw has all the tools we need to create site and venue maps for our events. We can import a satellite view of an area and overlay our event layout as a scaled drawing. Not only is SmartDraw intuitive, but their support is excellent."

Emily Rivera
Director, Vendor of Production Services, National MS Society

Click the link below to see all customer success stories.

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Trusted by Millions of Users

SmartDraw is easy to do business with according to G2 SmartDraw has best roi according to G2 SmartDraw is easy to setup with according to G2 SmartDraw is ranked top 50 in CAD Users love SmartDraw on G2 SmartDraw is a leader according to G2 SmartDraw is easy to implement according to G2 SmartDraw has best in class support according to G2 SmartDraw is a easy to admin according to G2
SmartDraw reviews sourced by G2

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About SmartDraw for Fire Departments

What is SmartDraw and how is it used by fire departments?

SmartDraw is a web-based app used by fire departments to create fire pre-plans, incident diagrams, evacuation maps, and investigation reports. Fire departments use SmartDraw to visualize buildings and sites, mark hazards, access points, and emergency resources, so responders can quickly understand a scene before and during an incident.

Because SmartDraw is designed to be easy to use, firefighters and investigators can create professional diagrams without specialized CAD training.

What types of diagrams can fire departments create with SmartDraw?

Fire departments commonly use SmartDraw to create:

  • Fire pre-incident plans (fire pre-plans)
  • Incident documentation diagrams
  • Fire scene investigation diagrams
  • Accident reconstruction diagrams
  • Evacuation and emergency response plans
  • Building floor plans and site plans
  • Training and operational diagrams
  • Incident timelines and process diagrams

SmartDraw supports both scaled drawings like floor plans and traditional diagrams like flowcharts or timelines, allowing departments to document operations as well as physical environments.

How does SmartDraw help create fire pre-plans?

SmartDraw provides fire pre-plan templates, industry-standard fire related symbol libraries, and drawing tools specifically designed for emergency planning.

Key capabilities include:

  • Fire pre-plan templates that provide a structured starting point
  • Ability to import existing building plans, site photos, and Google satellite maps to scale
  • Industry-standard drag-and-drop symbols for emergency equipment, hazards, and building features
  • Tools for drawing scaled building outlines and walls
  • Built-in labeling and annotation tools for critical information
  • Legends and color-coding for easy interpretation

Users can quickly build a clear diagram showing exits, alarms, hydrants, equipment, and hazards that firefighters need to see immediately when responding to a call.

Can SmartDraw be used for fire scene documentation?

Yes. SmartDraw can be used to create diagrams documenting fire scenes and incident details.

Investigators can use diagrams to show:

  • Origin and spread of fire
  • Equipment placement
  • Evidence locations
  • Structural damage
  • Witness positions
  • Response routes and apparatus placement

These diagrams can be included in investigation reports or legal documentation.

Can SmartDraw import existing building plans or maps?

Yes. One of SmartDraw's most useful features for fire departments is the ability to import existing PDFs, blueprints, Google Maps, satellite photos, or other aerial images and use them as the foundation of a pre-plan or incident report.

Users can:

  • Import a building blueprint or PDF floor plan
  • Import satellite imagery from Google Maps or other mapping tools
  • Import site photos
  • Scale the imported image to match real dimensions
  • Add symbols, annotations, and layer on top

This dramatically speeds up the creation of pre-plans and incident reports because departments can mark up existing building drawings rather than starting from scratch.

Can SmartDraw create evacuation plans?

Yes. SmartDraw includes templates and tools specifically designed for evacuation planning.

Evacuation diagrams can include:

  • Exit routes
  • Emergency exits and stairwells
  • Assembly points
  • Fire safety equipment
  • Hazardous areas

These diagrams help organizations document emergency procedures and improve safety preparedness.

Can evacuation plans be layered on top of floor plans?

Yes. Users can create or import a building floor plan and then overlay evacuation routes, safety equipment, and emergency instructions on top of it using layers and annotations.

What types of symbols and content are included for fire pre-planning?

SmartDraw includes a large library of industry-standard symbols and icons used in fire and emergency planning.

These typically include:

  • Fire extinguishers
  • Alarm pull stations
  • Sprinklers and hose cabinets
  • Hydrants and water supply points
  • Stairways and elevators
  • Emergency exits and evacuation routes
  • Hazardous material indicators
  • Utility shutoffs

These symbols help create diagrams that are easy for firefighters and first responders to understand quickly.

Does SmartDraw include industry-standard fire and safety symbols?

Yes. SmartDraw includes hundreds of industry-standard symbols commonly used in fire safety diagrams, including NFPA symbols for:

  • Hydrants and fire department connections
  • Fire protection systems
  • Hazardous materials
  • Structural hazards
  • Utility shutoffs
  • Access points and evacuation routes

These symbols help ensure diagrams follow recognized standards and are easy for responders to interpret.

Does SmartDraw have NFPA symbols?

Yes, SmartDraw has NFPA symbols for hazardous materials, structural and environmental hazards, fire protection systems, fire department connections, water supplies, shutoff valves, and more. Just drag and drop to create professional, industry-standard fire pre-plans.

Can fire departments standardize their fire pre-plans using SmartDraw?

Yes. Departments can create standardized templates so that every pre-plan follows the same format and uses consistent symbols, labels, and layouts.

Standardization helps:

  • Improve communication between crews
  • Ensure consistency across shifts
  • Support mutual aid coordination
  • Reduce confusion during emergencies

SmartDraw templates make it easy to maintain consistent formats across an entire department.

How does SmartDraw help fire departments standardize documentation?

SmartDraw allows departments to create consistent diagram templates that everyone can use.

Benefits include:

  • Standardized symbols and legends
  • Consistent formatting across reports
  • Faster documentation
  • Easier training for new personnel
Can SmartDraw be used for fire scene documentation?

Yes. SmartDraw can be used to create diagrams documenting fire scenes and incident details.

Investigators can use diagrams to show:

  • Origin and spread of fire
  • Equipment placement
  • Evidence locations
  • Structural damage
  • Witness protection
  • Response routes and apparatus placement

These diagrams can be included in investigation reports or legal documentation.

Can photos and evidence be added to incident diagrams?

Yes. Investigators can import photos and images and place them directly in a diagram. This allows diagrams to include:

  • Scene photographs
  • CCTV still images
  • Evidence markers
  • Environmental context

Adding visual evidence helps investigators communicate findings clearly.

How can teams collaborate on fire pre-plans?

SmartDraw supports sharing and collaboration so multiple stakeholders can review and update diagrams.

Plans can be:

  • Shared with other firefighters and inspectors
  • Worked on by team members in real-time
  • Reviewed by building owners or safety officers
  • Exported to PDF or common image formats
  • Added to incident documentation systems

Teams can also store plans in common cloud storage environments so they remain accessible to everyone who needs them.

Can multiple people collaborate on fire department diagrams?

Yes. SmartDraw supports real-time collaboration so multiple users can view and edit diagrams simultaneously.

Teams can:

  • Review plans together
  • Leave comments and feedback
  • Track revisions
  • Share diagrams via secure links

This makes it easier for planning teams and command staff to collaborate on emergency planning.

How does SmartDraw improve emergency preparedness?

SmartDraw helps departments visualize buildings, sites, hazards, and operational information before emergencies occur.

This leads to:

  • Faster situational awareness
  • Safer operations for firefighters
  • Better coordination among responding units
  • Improved documentation and reporting

By making pre-incident planning easier and more consistent, SmartDraw helps fire departments prepare more effectively for real-world emergencies.

Is SmartDraw difficult to learn?

No. SmartDraw is designed to be easier than traditional CAD software, allowing users to create scaled drawings without specialized drafting skills.

Features like the ability to import existing plans, drag-and-drop symbols, easy measurement and drawing tools make it possible to create professional diagrams quickly.

Where are SmartDraw diagrams stored?

Departments can store diagrams on SmartDraw's cloud storage for free or they can save them directly in their existing cloud storage systems, including:

  • SharePoint
  • OneDrive
  • Google Drive
  • Dropbox
  • Box

This allows organizations to maintain existing folder structures, permissions, and security policies.

Can SmartDraw work with a department's existing software?

Yes. SmartDraw integrates with many commonly used workplace tools, including:

  • Microsoft 365 and Office (Word, PowerPoint and Excel)
  • Google Workspace
  • Confluence
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Slack

These integrations make it easy to add diagrams into reports and operational documents.

How can fire departments share SmartDraw diagrams?

SmartDraw diagrams can be shared in several ways:

  • Shareable web links
  • PDF exports
  • Image files (PNG or SVG)
  • Embedded diagrams in documents or presentations

This makes it easy to distribute plans to crews, investigators, or partner agencies.

Can SmartDraw export to PDF?

Yes, SmartDraw will let fire departments export fire pre-plans and fire incident reports to PDF.

Can you add data to SmartDraw fire pre-plans and incident reports?

Yes, every symbol in SmartDraw can hold structured data.

You can add data about occupancy type, contact information, construction type, inspection dates, and more.

Can SmartDraw diagrams have layers?

Yes, SmartDraw lets users add multiple views to fire pre-plans and fire incident reports. You can separate building layout from utility shutoffs and hazardous zones. With layers, you can toggle visibility for different operational needs. Show only what matters for command decisions.

What other types of diagrams can you make with SmartDraw?

In addition to fire pre-plans, fire incident reports, and evacuation plans, SmartDraw lets fire departments make traditional diagrams like:

  • Organizational charts
  • Flowcharts
  • Process maps
  • Network diagrams
  • Timelines
  • Technical diagrams

Easily Prepare Fire Pre-Plans and Document Fire Incidents

Get SmartDraw to create clear and accurate fire pre-plans and document fire incidents.