diff --git a/src/firebase/index.ts b/src/firebase/index.ts
index 813505dec..969dbc2ca 100644
--- a/src/firebase/index.ts
+++ b/src/firebase/index.ts
@@ -8,14 +8,27 @@ import appConfig from "./config";
 
 firebase.initializeApp(appConfig);
 
+// Connect emulators based on env vars
+const envConnectEmulators =
+  process.env.NODE_ENV === "test" ||
+  process.env.REACT_APP_FIREBASE_EMULATOR === "true";
+
 export const auth = firebase.auth();
+if (envConnectEmulators && !(window as any).firebaseAuthEmulatorStarted) {
+  auth.useEmulator("http://localhost:9099");
+  (window as any).firebaseAuthEmulatorStarted = true;
+}
 
 export const db = firebase.firestore();
 db.settings({
   cacheSizeBytes: firebase.firestore.CACHE_SIZE_UNLIMITED,
   ignoreUndefinedProperties: true,
 });
-db.enablePersistence({ synchronizeTabs: true });
+if (!(window as any).firebaseDbStarted) {
+  if (envConnectEmulators) db.useEmulator("localhost", 9299);
+  else db.enablePersistence({ synchronizeTabs: true });
+  (window as any).firebaseDbStarted = true;
+}
 
 export const bucket = firebase.storage();
 export const functions = firebase.functions();