SEATTLE - When first responders rolled up to Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane on Monday, they had computers in their cars that told them a lot about the layout of the school, including maps of hallways and classrooms.

"They specifically used the floor plan for the SWAT teams to specifically try and isolate where the perpetrator was. They were also interested to find out what his field of fire was. And it is our understanding what his possible escape routes might be," said Jim Finnell.

Finnell heads "Prepared Response" of Seattle, the company that made software that put those plans into the hands of officers.

Not only did that software provide aerial photos and maps, it even told police and firefighters where to go to turn off the gas going to the chemistry lab where the suspect was hole up.

"It's designed to provide emergency service professionals key facility information so they can act quickly and decisively," said Finnell.

The mapping program was not available to those responding to shots fired at Colorado's Columbine High School more than three years ago. That situation dragged on for hours as two armed students gunned down 13 others.

Columbine led to a big rethinking of safety in schools, and ever since we've seen new police tactics, and even the use of cameras accessible to police on PDAs.

Lewis and Clark is one of only 60 high schools in Washington State that has been mapped. And there are 400 more to go.

"It did get used, and we are fortunate. We talked to the security people in Spokane," said Gary Kipp of the Association of Washington School Principals.

On Wednesday, it was announced that all the state's high schools will be getting the same tools that kept students safe just this week.

Renton's Hazen High School will be the first to get the equipment in King County.

The Snohomish County sheriff's office pioneered the use of first responder mapping in Washington.