Pre-Incident Plans began as hand drawings placed in three-ring binders.  In the years since, they have undergone many changes.  Today, plans are distributed on rewritable compact discs and memory sticks in digital format for use on apparatus-mounted laptop computers.

1984 - First hand drawn plans

1990 - Computer Aided Dispatch introduced to the Surrey Fire Department.  Plans are hand-drawn in standardized templates with hazards indicated with rubber stamps in coloured ink.

1992 - Pre Incident Plan symbols and first complete plan drawn on a computer.

1993 - First computer arrives at Firehall #5 (386SX).

1994 - Second computer arrives, along with an 18 x 24 inch digitizer and a colour dot matrix printer (dot matrix printer replaced by inkjet after an 'all night' print job melts the print head).

1995 - Hall 18 opens with a dedicated 'Pre Fire Plan' office.  Third computer arrives, along with 24 x 36 digitizer (large enough for full size blueprints).

1997 - Response Maps created and verified by on-duty crews (110 copies required for map printed each ).

1998 - Entire Suppression division trained in the use of Pre Fire Plans.  Pre Fire Plan office moved into renovated expansion to Hall 18.  Wall maps generated from Response Maps for each firehall.

1999 - 1100 plans completed (hard copy).  'Pre Fire Plans' changed to 'Pre-Incident Plans' to reflect increasing versatility of plans and increased scope of fire department responsibility.  One year Human Resource Development plan implemented to produce plans and train HRDC candidates.  First laptop computer installed in Battalion Chief's vehicle with Response Maps and 275 Pre-Incident Plans in indexed Portable Document Format.

2000 - Pumps (engines) 2 and 10 receive laptops updated with 400 completed Pre-Incident Plans.  Emergency Response Guide included with navigational links.  HRDC program concludes, resulting in 800 PIPs requiring verification.

2001 - Pumps 1, 4 and 6 receive laptop computers with 950 completed plans.  Six laptop computers now in service.  Our Website, www.preincidentplans.com is established.

2002 - Access database refined and entire Pre-Incident Plan production process reviewed.  All 1500 plans converted to digital format.  Three Quints purchased, stationed at Halls 4, 17, and 18, equipped with laptops.  Pump 13 also gets a laptop.  The Mobile Command Centre is equipped with a computer and all files, plus a current CD for other agencies to use.  Drawing templates and symbol library updated and distributed.

2003 - All first line pumps now have laptops installed, department wide training conducted to update all crews on changes and new features.  Operational Guidelines now available on the laptops.  1700 plans and counting.

2004 - Many more plans added to system.  All plans, maps, and other files can now be accessed from the station computers as well as the laptops.

2005 - New modular computer system being tested in Quint 4.  Specialty documents being added to system and laptops, including Holmatro Rescue Guide.  FDM system coming on line, integration of pre plans to come early in the new year.

2006 - coming soon...