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NFIRS 5.0 Element: ‘Area of Origin’
Also known as: ‘Area of Fire Origin’ ‘areaOfFireOrigin’
Definition: The primary use of the area where the fire started within the property.The area of origin may be a room, a portion of a room, a vehicle, a portion of a vehicle, or an open area devoted to a specific use. Every fire has an area of fire origin.
Purpose : Combined with data on the fire’s ignition, knowing the area where the fire originated assists in determining the cause of the fire. Such information is useful for targeting fire prevention, investigation, and suppression efforts.
Entry : Enter the two-digit code and description that best describes the area of fire origin.
Need something else? Here is the complete list of all NFIRS modules and subsequent NFIRS transactions , plus a list of all NFIRS elements .
NFIRS Coding
Here are the NFIRS codes for the ‘Area of Origin’ element, including any “other” values in case none of the preselected choices match:
Common Examples of Area of Origin
More commonly used values for Area of Origin…
Area of Origin
Code
Cooking Area, Kitchen
24
Entranceway, Lobby
05
Interior Stairway or Ramp
03
Wildland, Woods
95
Outside Area - Other
90
Other Area Of Fire Origin
00
Undetermined
UU
Ceiling And Floor Assembly, Crawl Space Between Stories
73
Attic: Vacant, Crawl Space Above Top Story
74
Wall Assembly, Concealed Wall Space
75
Groups within ‘Area of Origin’
All values for Area of Origin
Means Of Egress Group
01 - Hallway Corridor, Mall
02 - Exterior Stairway, Ramp, or Fire Escape
03 - Interior Stairway or Ramp
04 - Escalator: Exterior, Interior
05 - Entranceway, Lobby
09 - Egress/Exit - Other
Assembly, Sales Areas (groups Of People) Group
11 - Arena, Assembly Area W/ Fixed Seats - 100+ Persons
12 - Assembly Area Without Fixed Seats - 100+ Persons
13 - Assembly Area - Less Than 100 Persons
14 - Common Room, Den, Family Room, Living Room, Lounge
15 - Sales Area, Showroom (excludes Display Window)
16 - Art Gallery, Exhibit Hall, Library
17 - Swimming Pool
10 - Assembly or Sales Area - Other
Function Areas Group
21 - Bedroom - < 5 Persons; Included Are Jail or Prison
22 - Bedroom - 5+ Persons; Including Barrack/Dormitory
23 - Dining Room, Cafeteria, Bar Area, Beverage Service
24 - Cooking Area, Kitchen
25 - Bathroom, Checkroom, Lavatory, Locker Room
26 - Laundry Area, Wash House (Laundry)
27 - Office
28 - Personal Service Area, Barber/Beauty Salon Area
20 - Function Areas - Other
Technical Processing Areas Group
31 - Laboratory
32 - Dark Room, Photography Area, or Printing Area
33 - Treatment - First Aid Area, Surgery Area
34 - Surgery Area - Major Operations, Operating Room
35 - Computer Room, Control Room or Center
36 - Stage Area - Performance, Basketball Court, Boxing
37 - Projection Room, Spotlight Area
38 - Processing/Manufacturing Area, Workroom
30 - Technical Processing Areas - Other
Storage Areas Group
41 - Storage Room, Area, Tank, or Bin
42 - Closet
43 - Storage: Supplies or Tools; Dead Storage
44 - Records Storage Room, Storage Vault
45 - Shipping/receiving Area; Loading Area, Dock or Bay
46 - Chute/Container - Trash, Rubbish, Waste
47 - Vehicle Storage Area; Garage, Carport
40 - Storage Area - Other
Service Areas Group
51 - Dumbwaiter or Elevator Shaft
52 - Conduit, Pipe, Utility, or Ventilation Shaft
53 - Light Shaft
54 - Chute; Laundry or Mail, Excluding Trash Chutes
55 - Duct: HVAC, Cable, Exhaust, Heating, or AC
56 - Display Window
57 - Chimney (Conversion Only)
58 - Conveyor
50 - Service Facilities - Other
Service, Equipment Areas Group
61 - Machinery Room or Area; Elevator Machinery Room
62 - Heating Room or Area, Water Heater Area
63 - Switchgear Area, Transformer Vault
64 - Incinerator Area
65 - Maintenance Shop or Area, Paint Shop or Area
66 - Cell, Test
67 - Enclosure, Pressurized Air
68 - Enclosure With Enriched Oxygen Atmosphere
60 - Equipment or Service Area - Other
Structural Areas Group
71 - Substructure Area or Space, Crawl Space
72 - Exterior Balcony, Unenclosed Porch
73 - Ceiling And Floor Assembly, Crawl Space Between Stories
74 - Attic: Vacant, Crawl Space Above Top Story
75 - Wall Assembly, Concealed Wall Space
76 - Wall Surface: Exterior
77 - Roof Surface: Exterior
78 - Awning
70 - Structural Area - Other
Transportation, Vehicle Areas Group
81 - Operator/passenger Area Of Transportation Equipment
82 - Cargo/trunk Area—all Vehicles
83 - Engine Area, Running Gear, Wheel Area
84 - Fuel Tank, Fuel Line
85 - Separate Operator/control Area Of Transportation Equipment
86 - Exterior, Exposed Surface
80 - Vehicle Area - Other
Other Area Of Origin Group
91 - Railroad Right-of-way: On or Near
92 - Highway, Parking Lot, Street: On or Near
93 - Courtyard, Patio, Terrace
94 - Open Area, Outside; Included Are Farmland, Field
95 - Wildland, Woods
96 - Construction/Renovation Area
97 - Multiple Areas
98 - Vacant Structural Area
90 - Outside Area - Other
00 - Other Area Of Fire Origin
UU - Undetermined
Transactions containing ‘Area of Origin’
A few NFIRS elements are reused accross a number of transactions, but typically the value is captured by one transaction only.
Element Specification
Specification
Value
Requirement
Mandatory
Expected Length
2
Element Type
Coded Field - The coded field relating to an entry in the code table. Most coded fields allow for Plus+ One codes. For these fields the expected length of the coded entry is depicted as (National length OR Plus+ One length). Only fields with this notation in the expected length column allow for Plus+ One definitions. If the user has not provided information, an empty field should be transmitted.
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