FireFrontIC, A Community-Driven Wildfire Response Platform

Shannon Porter is organizing this fundraiser.

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The Problem We're Solving

Every year, wildfires devastate communities across North America. In 2023 alone, Canada experienced its worst wildfire season on record, with 18 million hectares burned. Although the 2024 wildfire season was not as severe, it was still the second-largest recorded in the past two decades. British Columbia, where I live, saw entire towns evacuated and billions in damages.

One of the biggest challenges? Access to coordination tools

British Columbia has an excellent Incident Command System (ICS) through the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS). Still, there's a critical gap: not everyone who needs these tools can access them. This isn't due to intent to exclude but because of structural and administrative barriers that leave many communities vulnerable.

Who's Left Out:

Unincorporated townships
Remote First Nations communities
Local volunteer fire departments
Community response groups
Small rural communities

Why They Can't Access Official ICS Tools:

1. Lack of Formal Agreements - BCWS prioritizes communities with Community Wildfire Resiliency Plans, Mutual Aid Agreements, or designated Emergency Management Liaisons. Without these, communities can't access ICS tools.

2. Jurisdictional Gaps - In unincorporated areas, responsibility often falls to under-resourced regional districts. Volunteer groups may respond, but they lack the necessary credentials for system access.

3. Technical Barriers - Official ICS requires authorized logins, ICS-100/200+ training, and reliable connectivity, which is often unavailable in remote areas.

4. Resource Prioritization - During escalating fire seasons, BCWS must allocate resources where EOC integration exists, leaving smaller communities feeling overlooked.

The Current Workarounds Aren't Enough:

While communities can establish Emergency Services Agreements, partner with municipalities, or apply for UBCM grants, these solutions take time, resources, and expertise that many small communities simply don't have - especially when fires are already burning.

Our Solution: FireFrontIC

I'm building FireFrontIC (Fire Front Incident Command). This free, open-source platform fills this critical gap by providing enterprise-level incident management tools to communities that can't access official ICS systems. While initially focused on wildfire response, FireFrontIC is designed as a comprehensive all-hazards emergency management platform.

FireFrontIC bridges the gap by offering:

No minimum requirements - Sign up and start coordinating immediately
No formal agreements needed - While you work on official channels with BCWS
No training prerequisites - Intuitive interface designed for volunteers
Works anywhere - Offline capability for remote areas without connectivity
All-hazards ready - Built to expand beyond wildfires to all emergency types

Think of FireFrontIC as your community's comprehensive emergency management system while you work toward obtaining official ICS access. It provides the same enterprise-level management capabilities without bureaucratic barriers, ready to handle any emergency your community faces.

What Makes FireFrontIC Different

1. Real-Time Fire Intelligence

Live satellite fire detection (NASA FIRMS, BC Wildfire Service data)
Interactive maps showing fire locations, perimeters, and spread predictions
Weather overlays (wind, lightning, temperature)
Automatic alerts when fires threaten communities

2. Resource Coordination

Track equipment locations (trucks, pumps, helicopters)
Manage volunteer crews and their certifications
See who's available and where they're deployed
Share resources between departments during emergencies

3. Field Communication

Mobile app works offline in remote areas
Field crews can report conditions with photos and GPS coordinates
Real-time updates sync when the connection is restored
Replace outdated radio-only communication

4. Built for Communities

Free and open-source forever
Works for departments of any size
No expensive licenses or contracts
Community-driven development
No barriers to entry - unlike official ICS systems
Complements existing systems - not competing with BCWS

5. All-Hazards Emergency Platform

Expandable beyond wildfire to all emergency types
Structure fire pre-planning and response
Motor vehicle accident management
Search and rescue coordination
Natural disaster response (floods, avalanches, earthquakes)
One system for all your community's emergency needs

Where We Are Now (55% Complete)

✅ What's Working:

Web portal with real-time fire mapping (Coming online the end of June 2025)
Integration with BC Wildfire and NASA satellite data
Incident basic tracking & simple reporting system basics
Weather data layers (lightning, wind, heat)
User authentication and organization management
Interactive maps with multiple base-map options
Popup windows for detailed fire information

In Progress:

Incident creation for small community & volunteer coordination
Incident advanced tracking & detailed reporting system with management control
Equipment and personnel tracking framework
Mobile app for field crews, with citizen notification & reporting
Offline synchronization system
Push notifications and alerts
Wildfire prediction algorithm using AI/ML

Still Needed:

SMS/email alert system
Equipment maintenance tracking
Multi-language support (French, Indigenous languages)
Training materials and documentation

Where We're Going - From BC to the World

Our vision begins in British Columbia but ultimately aims to extend globally if the need arises, which we believe it will. Wildfires don't respect borders, and neither should life-saving technology.

Phase 1: British Columbia Launch (3 months - $50,000)

Complete mobile app with offline capability
Finish prediction algorithm for fire spread
SMS/email notification system
Beta test with 5 BC volunteer departments
Create training videos and documentation
Establish partnerships with BC communities unable to access BCWS ICS

Phase 2: Expand Across Canada (6 months - $100,000)

Adapt for Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba fire services
Add support for Ontario and Quebec departments
Then extend support throughout Atlantic Canada and Newfoundland
Integrate with provincial fire data sources
French language interface
Partner with Indigenous communities across Canada
Integrate with Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) data

Phase 3: North American Coverage (12 months - $200,000)

Add support for US fire departments
Integrate with InciWeb and US federal fire systems
Spanish language support for cross-border coordination
Connect with NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center) data
Establish partnerships with volunteer departments in high-risk US states

Phase 4: Multi-Hazard Emergency Response (18 months - $250,000)

Structure Fire Management

Building pre-plans and hydrant mapping
Automatic mutual aid dispatch
Occupancy tracking and evacuation status
Fire investigation reporting tools

Motor Vehicle Accident Response

Real-time traffic integration
Hazmat vehicle identification
Patient tracking and triage tools
Automatic nearest unit dispatch

Search and Rescue Operations

Missing person case management
Search grid assignment and tracking
Volunteer searcher coordination
Drone and K9 unit integration

Natural Disaster Response

Flood monitoring and evacuation zones
Avalanche risk assessment tools
Earthquake damage assessment
Storm tracking and shelter management

Phase 5: Global Impact (24-36 months - $300,000)

Adapt for Australian bushfire services
Support for Mediterranean countries (Greece, Spain, Portugal)
Integration with global satellite fire detection systems
Multi-language support for affected regions
Open-source toolkit for any country to deploy
United Nations partnership for developing nations

Why Your Support Matters

Every dollar donated goes directly to:

Development Costs (60%)

Developer salaries (currently just me, need 3 more)
Server infrastructure and data storage
API access for weather and fire data
Security audits and testing

Community Outreach (25%)

Free training for volunteer departments
Equipment for testing (tablets, phones)
Travel to rural communities for setup
Translation services

Sustainability (15%)

Legal fees for non-profit incorporation
Documentation and educational materials
Conference presentations to spread adoption
Emergency fund for critical fixes

My Background

My name is Shannon Porter, and I currently reside in Kootenay, BC, a region known for its wildfire activity. Originally from Newfoundland, I moved to BC when I was 19. I'm a software developer and CRM specialist with over 25 years of experience in the field. I have witnessed numerous communities struggle during wildfire season. I watch stories unfold in real-time of communities that had their own wildfire resources and equipment but just needed help organizing and working together. However, when they asked for that help, they were told that they were too small to allocate resources, and the only officially available option was to evacuate. After seeing volunteer firefighters in my area still using paper maps while satellites overhead could show exactly where fires were burning, I felt a deep sense of frustration. I was driven to help in the ways my experience and expertise allow me to do so.

I've already invested hundreds of hours of my own time and resources into FireFrontIC because every community deserves access to life-saving technology, regardless of their budget.

The Impact

With your help, FireFrontIC will:

Save lives by getting accurate information to firefighters faster
Fill the critical gap for communities waiting for official ICS access
Protect property through better resource coordination
Empower communities with professional-grade tools
Level the playing field between rural and urban fire response
Create a model for community-driven emergency response worldwide

For BC Communities: While you work on establishing formal agreements with BCWS, applying for EMBC representation, or getting ICS training - FireFrontIC ensures you're not left vulnerable. It's the bridge between no coordination and full ICS integration.

Join Us

Whether you can contribute $10 or $10,000, you're not just funding software - you're investing in community resilience. You're helping ensure that when the next wildfire season comes, every firefighter has the tools they need to protect lives and homes.

Together, we can transform how communities respond to wildfires. Together, we can support the men and women in the field who are fighting at the fire front, saving lives and property. If the day comes when my family and I are in the path of a wildfire, those fighting it will have everything they need to be safe and successful. This isn't just an altruistic desire but also a profoundly personal one. If you feel similarly, then please consider helping. Every little bit helps.

Every second counts. Every dollar helps. Every community matters. Every person protected.

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Contribution Tier Recognition

$10 & up - Community Supporter

Name listed on our supporter wall
Project updates and newsletter

$500 - Fire Safety Champion

All the above rewards
Early access to mobile app beta

$1000 - Incident Commander

All the above rewards
Direct input on feature priorities

$5,000 - Department Sponsor

All the above rewards
Monthly calls with the development team
Custom feature request consideration
Recognition page for your department & members

$10,000 - Wildfire Guardian

All the above rewards
Dedicated support for your region's deployment
Custom training program for your teams
Advisory board position

$25,000+ - Founding Partner

All the above rewards
Direct involvement in strategic planning
Keynote speaking opportunity at FireFront Incident Command events
Lifetime priority support line

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Contact & Updates

Website & web app: www.firefrontic.com (coming online soon)

Updates: Weekly development logs are posted every Friday

FireFront IC is committed to transparency. Monthly financial reports will be published showing exactly how funds are used.

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Note: FireFront IC will be registered as a non-profit organization. Tax receipts will be available for qualifying donations once registration is complete.