How First Due's Hydrant Software Transforms Fire Response

For decades, fire response teams followed one simple rule: grab the nearest hydrant. When lives and property are on the line, speed matters. But what if the closest hydrant doesn’t have the flow you need—or worse, it’s out of service?

In the high-pressure environment of fire suppression, assumptions about water supply can cost valuable time. Firefighters have always known that not all hydrants are created equal, but until recently, there wasn’t an easy way to distinguish between them in the heat of the moment.

The Challenge: Visibility, Flow, and Functionality

Traditional hydrant strategies rely heavily on physical proximity and paper-based maps. While this worked for years, the approach doesn’t account for water pressure, flow capacity, maintenance status, or the actual distance required to lay hose. In an emergency, that missing information can lead to delays, missteps, and wasted effort.

Departments that import basic GIS data might see dots on a map—but not much else. These hydrant layers often lack performance history, inspection details, or even clear indicators of whether the hydrant is operational. And when every second counts, that’s not good enough.
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A New Approach to Water Supply

First Due has reimagined how fire departments manage hydrant data. Instead of relying on static maps or memory, First Due’s Hydrant module offers a complete, intelligent view of every water source in your jurisdiction.

Hydrants are automatically color-coded based on NFPA 291 flow standards, making it easy to identify which ones can support large-scale operations and which might fall short. Out-of-service hydrants are clearly marked, giving crews instant awareness before they arrive on scene.

The module also calculates exact hose lay distances, allowing for strategic planning of supply and attack lines. With integrated flow testing tools, departments can document static and residual pressures using standardized NFPA formulas and track performance over time.
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Beyond Mapping: Total Hydrant Management

The Hydrant module goes far beyond location data. Departments can:

• Build configurable checklists for field inspections

• Track hydrant condition, accessibility, and marker status

• Log maintenance history and test results

• Document the type and classification of each hydrant—including private, dry, yard, or drafting sources

• View hydrants in context with pre-plans and building intel

This depth of information is accessible on any device. Enter it once, and it updates across the system—ensuring that data stays current, accurate, and visible to everyone who needs it.
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A Connected View of Response

What makes First Due's approach unique is the way hydrants integrate with the larger response ecosystem. In the same interface used for pre-plans, incident documentation, and personnel tracking, responders can also access real-time hydrant data. Whether viewing from a mobile unit or command center, crews have everything they need—before they roll up to the scene.

Departments can import hydrant records through easy CSV uploads or GIS layers, streamlining implementation and keeping data synced with municipal water sources.
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From Uncertainty to Readiness

Hydrants shouldn’t be a mystery. They’re one of the most vital tools in fire suppression—and they deserve more than dots on a map. By equipping departments with actionable insights and real-time visibility, First Due helps agencies move from reactive workarounds to proactive water management.

Because the best hydrant isn’t always the closest one. It’s the one that delivers the water you need, when and where you need it.