OpenFireMap
   OpenFireMap | |
|---|---|
 Historical example from August 2015 | |
| Slippy map: | OpenFireMap.org |
| Language: | multiple languages |
| Tiles license: | MIT |
| Source code: | https://github.com/FrnkMrz/OpenFireMapV2 |
OpenFireMap is a worldwide, interactive map of fire-service-related data from OpenStreetMap (OSM). It shows fire stations, fire hydrants, water supply points and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The current application is OpenFireMap V2.
- Live map: openfiremap.org
- Source code and issue tracker: GitHub
- Service status: status page
OpenFireMap is a browser-based map for exploring OSM data. It is not an official dispatch or operational map. OSM data may be incomplete or out of date; check it against trusted local sources before operational use.
What the map shows
The map loads features progressively as you zoom in:
- Below zoom 12, individual fire-service objects are not shown.
- From zoom 12, fire stations are displayed.
- From zoom 14, administrative boundaries are available.
- From zoom 15, fire hydrants, water supply points and AEDs are displayed. Nearby objects are clustered at lower detail and separate as you zoom in.
- From zoom 16, a 100 m radius is shown around a selected hydrant or water point; the distance is labelled from zoom 17.
- At zoom 17 and above, additional details such as hydrant diameter are shown when the corresponding OSM tags are present. You can select an object to show a distance line from your current location when location access is available.
The map offers several background maps. You can search for a place or address, use your device location, and share a link that preserves the map position, zoom and selected layer. Location access is requested by the browser and is optional.
Data sources and update frequency
OpenFireMap uses OpenStreetMap data worldwide. It queries the Overpass API and uses Nominatim for place and address search. To speed up map loading, pre-built PMTiles data is also available for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein, as well as 40 other European countries. The application combines data sources where needed and falls back to Overpass when pre-built data is unavailable.
The regional data files are refreshed on a schedule, so their underlying OSM snapshot can lag behind current edits. Where available, OpenFireMap requests newer changes from Overpass. The map's status and data source information show the data date for the current view; see the service status page for pipeline status.
Search, caching and export
The map can store data in the browser's IndexedDB cache. The cache can be disabled or set to expire after 1 hour, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days or 30 days. Cached map data is not a guarantee of offline availability.
The export tools can save the map as PNG or PDF and export hydrants in the visible area as GPX or CSV. Large map exports are limited by zoom and area to keep them manageable in the browser.
Adding and correcting map data
OpenFireMap displays data mapped by the OSM community; it does not maintain a separate object database. Correct missing or inaccurate objects directly in OpenStreetMap and follow the established tagging conventions. Common tags include:
- Fire stations:
amenity=fire_station - Fire hydrants:
emergency=fire_hydrant - Water tanks:
emergency=water_tank - Water suction points:
emergency=suction_point - Fire-water ponds:
emergency=fire_water_pond - AEDs:
emergency=defibrillator
For an introduction to mapping hydrants, see OpenFireMap HOWTO.
Technology and licensing
OpenFireMap V2 is a client-side web application. It uses JavaScript modules, Leaflet and OpenStreetMap services; it does not require an application backend. Source code is available in the GitHub repository under the MIT license. OpenStreetMap data is available under the Open Database License (ODbL).
Project history
The first OpenFireMap version was created in September 2010. The project grew from discussions among OSM contributors, including the Nuremberg OSM meetup and a mapping party in Zurich. A fire-station-related Project of the Week followed in December 2010. Since January 2012, the OpenFireMap.org domain has pointed to the continuing map project. OpenFireMap V2 is the current, rebuilt application.
Classic OpenFireMap.de and its historical map display
OpenFireMap.de is the classic, technically independent map that followed the earlier OpenFireMap project. It covers the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein); the classic map also included zoom level 18. The table below records the former symbols and zoom-level display of the classic map. It is retained as historical documentation and does not describe OpenFireMap V2. For current V2 behaviour, see What the map shows above.
Each row is a zoom level and each column an object type. “Not shown” means that the classic map did not render that object at that zoom. At zoom 14 and 15 the same general hydrant symbol was used; from zoom 16, the map used more specific symbols. At zoom 17, some symbols could also show OSM tag values. Zoom 18 was specific to the classic OpenFireMap.de map.
| Object | Fire station | Above-ground hydrant | Underground hydrant | Wall hydrant | Hydrant type not recorded | Closed water tank | Water supply point | Water well |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symbol |  |
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| 7 | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown |
| 8 | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown |
| 9 | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown |
| 10 | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown |
| 11 |  |
Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown |
| 12 | |
Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown |
| 13 |  ref |
Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown | Not shown |
| 14 | ref |
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| 15 | ref |
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| 16 | ref |
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| 17 | ref |
fire_hydrant:diameter |
fire_hydrant:diameter |
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fire_hydrant:diameter |
water_tank:volume |
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| 18 | Like zoom 17, classic OpenFireMap.de only | Like zoom 17, classic OpenFireMap.de only | Like zoom 17, classic OpenFireMap.de only | Like zoom 17, classic OpenFireMap.de only | Like zoom 17, classic OpenFireMap.de only | Like zoom 17, classic OpenFireMap.de only | Like zoom 17, classic OpenFireMap.de only | Like zoom 17, classic OpenFireMap.de only |
| OSM tags | amenity=fire_station ref=* |
emergency=fire_hydrant fire_hydrant:type=pillar fire_hydrant:diameter=* |
emergency=fire_hydrant fire_hydrant:type=underground fire_hydrant:diameter=* |
emergency=fire_hydrant fire_hydrant:type=wall |
emergency=fire_hydrant fire_hydrant:type=unknown fire_hydrant:diameter=* |
emergency=water_tank water_tank:volume=* |
emergency=fire_hydrant fire_hydrant:type=pond emergency=suction_point emergency=fire_water_pond |
emergency=fire_hydrant fire_hydrant:type=pipe
|
In the classic map, station labels could use the OSM ref=* value (up to five characters). From zoom 17, the symbols could show a hydrant's nominal diameter and a water tank's volume where those tags were mapped.
Background layers on the classic map
The classic OpenFireMap.de offered several base layers, including the standard OSM map, a pale OSM map, topographic maps, a pale topographic map, Wikimedia maps and a view without a base layer.
Mapping and using the data
OpenFireMap displays community-maintained OSM data. To add or correct an object, edit OpenStreetMap using the established tagging conventions. The current map covers fire stations, hydrants, water tanks, water suction points, fire-water ponds and AEDs; see the tagging links in Adding and correcting map data. The OpenFireMap HOWTO gives an introduction to mapping hydrants.
For field use, OSM apps such as OsmAnd can store map data for offline use and show emergency points of interest. Whether a particular app supports hydrant tags depends on its map data and configuration. OpenFireMap itself needs an internet connection to load or update data; its browser cache is not an offline guarantee.
The historic example in this article shows the classic map around Schnaittach in August 2015. It is included as a dated example, not as a current data snapshot. The classic Polish example from Wieluń (January 2014) and older zoom-level images on this wiki are likewise historical references.
Contact
For questions about the project, contact Wankmann or use the GitHub issue tracker. OSM data errors should be reported or corrected in OpenStreetMap.