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The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is a major step forward for fire service data. However, because the system is still young and growing, and perhaps even a little bigger city focused, you may encounter situations where you can’t find an accurate code for a specific incident, property type, or action taken.
These are NERIS Reporting Gaps. They represent real-world scenarios that the current version of the system doesn’t fully account for, sometimes forcing departments to choose a “best fit” code that isn’t entirely accurate.
Lets close those NERIS gaps together...
A perfect example of a current gap is a fire involving an agricultural vehicle, like a tractor or a combine.
NERIS provides codes for a “passenger vehicle fire” or a “commercial vehicle fire,” but neither of these truly fits. A combine isn’t a passenger car, and classifying it as a standard commercial vehicle might misrepresent the unique risks and equipment involved in agricultural incidents. This forces a reporting compromise and leads to less accurate national data.
Accurate data is essential for understanding trends, justifying resources, and keeping firefighters safe. The best way to improve NERIS is with feedback from the crews who use it every day.
We are collecting information on these gaps to help the volunteer fire service advocate for a more complete and accurate reporting system. If you’ve run into a situation where NERIS didn’t have a code that fit, please let us know.
Use the form below to report a gap you’ve discovered. Your feedback is invaluable.