What does NERIS stand for?

NERIS stands for National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS).

What is USFA’s NERIS?

The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is a modernization and simplification of the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for the United States Fire Administration (USFA).

NFIRS (the National Fire Incident Reporting System) originated in the 1970s and was due an overhaul to respond to modern needs. NERIS is both a modernization and simplification, where less is required of the end firefighter, of NFIRS, plus it includes GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and other modern technology.

How do I learn more about NERIS?

Check back here, we’ll be following it’s progress as it rolls out some in 2024, and more in 2025.

What is the difference between NERIS and NFIRS?

NERIS is similar to NFIRS (especially since it captures information about fire incidents, but is demands fewer fields and codes. Further, incident information is taken from Dispatch (CAD) when possible, saving the repeated data entry by firefighters.

NERIS does contain roughly the same modules as NFIRS.

What is NERIS going to be like?

While the NERIS specification is currently being developed, check out an initial draft of the NERIS specification. At a high level the specification is simplified NFIRS with some significant modernization, plus some GIS additions.

Where can I find NERIS resources?

If you want to go in depth, you can find more information on NERIS at both here USFA website, and on the FRSI website.