🚒 Firehouse247 – Mobile-Only Workforce Management for Fire Departments in the US & UK
Built by Blue Developments for Firehouse247.com
Platform Type: Mobile App (iOS & Android) Only
Client Use Case: Fire Department Scheduling, Shift Management, and Payroll Optimization
🔥 The Mission
Fire departments operate under extreme time constraints and depend on airtight shift schedules. With aging legacy systems, managing 24/7 rotations, overtime, union rules, and last-minute changes had become chaotic for many fire departments in the US and UK.
Firehouse247 approached Blue Developments with a clear objective:
Modernize and mobilize their entire scheduling and payroll workflow through a reliable, intuitive mobile app.
📌 Project Overview
- Client: Firehouse247
- Industry: Emergency Services / Workforce Management
- Platform: iOS & Android (Fully Mobile)
- Users: Firefighters, Shift Supervisors, Payroll Admins
- Regions Served: United States & United Kingdom
- Time in Use: 3+ Years
- Version: V3 in production, built from the ground up on modern architecture
🧩 Challenges
- 🔁 Legacy System: 10-year-old backend with limited flexibility and high maintenance costs
- 📅 Manual Scheduling: Drag-and-drop web tools without mobile support
- ⏰ Overtime Complexity: Difficulties tracking, verifying, and managing shift overages
- 📱 No Native App: Departments struggled without real-time notifications and mobile access
- 🔄 Frequent Shift Changes: Lack of visibility and real-time updates caused confusion in critical roles
💡 The Blue Developments Solution
Blue Developments built a fully responsive mobile app (native) from scratch, using the latest frameworks to optimize performance, reliability, and user experience for fire departments.
Key Features Delivered:
-
📆 Shift Scheduling Module
- Easily assign, reassign, and track day/night shifts in real-time
- Group- and role-based views (e.g., engines, battalions, training academy)
-
🔄 Shift Swap & Acceptance
- Firefighters can accept, reject, or swap shifts via mobile app
- Instant in-app & push notifications
-
📊 Overtime Tracking & Alerts
- Smart alerts when users exceed hours or approach thresholds
- Automatic inclusion of overtime in payroll
-
💰 Integrated Payroll Engine (coming in V3)
- Mobile-first payroll sync with audit trail
- Compliant with local union rules and contract terms
-
📈 Calendar View & Analytics
- Track individual schedules, workload patterns, and group balance
📱 Mobile-First Success
Firehouse247 V3 is now fully mobile and used daily by hundreds of firefighters and administrators across two continents.
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| App Downtime | < 0.2% annually |
| Shift Errors | Reduced by 90% |
| Admin Scheduling Time | Cut by 60% |
| Firefighter App Adoption | 92% across all departments |
| Total Shifts Managed | 500,000+ (2021–2024) |
🔧 Technical Stack
- Frontend: React Native
- Authentication: JWT + 2FA
- Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)
- Data Storage: AWS RDS (PostgreSQL)
- CI/CD: GitHub Actions + App Store / Google Play deployments
🏁 Outcome
Firehouse247 now leads the fire department tech space with a modern, secure mobile solution that enables departments to:
- Eliminate scheduling chaos
- Automate compliance with staffing and overtime rules
- Improve firefighter satisfaction and work-life balance
- Scale without rebuilding the core system