FireAid

Trapped in a wildfire with no idea where to run? One tap alerts others, shows shelters and hospitals near you, and connects you to real-time help, updates, and people who can save your life.

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🔥 Inspiration

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive due to climate change, displacing thousands of people and putting lives at risk. During a crisis, communication and visibility are critical, but often lacking. We wanted to build something fast, simple, and effective that empowers people to signal for help and connect communities instantly in times of danger as well as provide resources for what to do in the event of a wildfire. FireAid is a project for social good, and it was built to support vulnerable communities when they need it most.

🚨 What it does

FireAid is a web app designed to provide real-time visibility and support during wildfires. At the heart of the app is a “Panic Button”—a one-tap SOS feature that, when activated, shares a user's live location on a Google Maps-powered dashboard, visible to everyone on the network. Whether you’re trapped, in need of supplies, or offering help, FireAid connects you with others nearby who can assist or signal emergency responders.

🛠️ How we built it

We used Next.js for the frontend and backend framework, giving us the flexibility of server-side rendering and API integration. For the database, we chose MongoDB to handle location pings and user data quickly and scalably. MongoDB also powers the chat portion of the app, allowing users to discuss topics related to wildfire together as well as coordinate help during times of crisis. Authentication and user management are handled with Auth0, keeping the app secure and easy to log in to. The Google Maps JavaScript API powers our live map feature, letting users instantly see where help is needed. Lastly, we utilize Docker and GitHub CI to automatically update the website.

🧗 Challenges we ran into

  • Integrating real-time location updates into Google Maps took some trial and error.
  • Getting Auth0 to play nicely with Next.js involved some authentication hurdles.
  • Making the app intuitive enough for someone to use under stress required a lot of UX fine-tuning.
  • Deploying and testing a live map experience with multiple users at once under time pressure was tricky!

🏆 Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • We got real-time location sharing working seamlessly with Google Maps!
  • Built a simple and clean user interface under pressure.
  • Created a real, useful tool that could genuinely help people in emergency situations.
  • Learned a ton about combining multiple tech stacks under one roof.

đź“š What we learned

  • The power of geolocation APIs and how to safely handle user location data.
  • Dealing with real-time data flows in a full-stack app.
  • How to simplify UX during a crisis—minimal clicks, clear actions.
  • That teamwork and fast iteration make magic happen.

🔮 What’s next for FireAid

  • Set location-based alerts or push notifications.
  • Build a mobile app version for on-the-go accessibility.
  • Partner with emergency response teams to make FireAid a real-world resource.

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