Module 'Basic' - NFIRS | Responserack

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NERIS replaced NFIRS in 2026. See our NERIS resources.

NFIRS 5.0 Module ‘Basic’

Description: The ‘Basic Module’ is the base that everything else depends upon; it contains the transactions that any incident type could require, and that are mandatory.

This module is NOT optional it is NOT ‘department use’; meaning it’s contents are used by FEMA NFIRS reports.

Need something else? Here is the complete list of all NFIRS modules and subsequent NFIRS transactions, plus a list of all NFIRS elements.

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Basic Transactions:

Basic Incident - ‘Provides the standard details for the incident’- Mandatory, 1 only
Incident Address - ‘Provides the location, e.g. address, for the incident’- Optional, at most 1
Aid Given Received - ‘Provides details of when aid (e.g. mutual aid) was given or received’- Optional, at most 1
Officer In Charge - ‘Provides details of the officer in charge of the incident’- Optional, at most 1
Member Making Report - ‘Provides details of the member providing the NFIRS report for the incident’- Optional, at most 1
Incident Remarks - ‘Provides the narrative / comments for the incident’- Optional, at most 1
Special Study - ‘Provides the ability for special studies (e.g. COVID-19 information)'- Optional, at most 200

Basic Incident Blocks:

These blocks are collections of elements carried by the ‘Basic Incident’ transaction.

Block	Elements
A	Fire Department ID — Fire Department State — Incident (Alarm) Date — Incident Number (Identifier) — Exposure Number — Record Type/Transaction Code — Transaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
C	Incident Type
B	Address recorded on Wildland Module (Form)
D	Aid Given or Received
E1	Alarm Date Time — Arrival Date Time — Incident Controlled Date Time — Last Unit Cleared Date Time
E2	Shift — Alarms — District
F	Actions Taken
G1	Resource Module (Form) Used — Suppression Apparatus — EMS Apparatus — Other Apparatus — Suppression Personnel — EMS Personnel — Other Personnel — Resources Include Mutual Aid
G2	Property Loss — Contents Loss — Property Value — Contents Value
H1	Fire Service Deaths — Other Deaths — Fire Service Injuries — Other Injuries
H2	Detector Alerted Occupants
H3	Hazardous Material Released
I	Mixed Use
J	Property Use

Incident Address Blocks:

These blocks are collections of elements carried by the ‘Incident Address’ transaction.

Block	Elements
A	Fire Department ID — Fire Department State — Incident (Alarm) Date — Incident Number (Identifier) — Exposure Number — Record Type/Transaction Code — Transaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
B	Census Tract — Location Type — Number or Milepost — Street Prefix — Street or Highway Name — Street Type — Street Suffix — Apartment Number — City — State — Zip — Cross Street, Directions or National Grid

Aid Given Received Blocks:

These blocks are collections of elements carried by the ‘Aid Given Received’ transaction.

Block	Elements
A	Fire Department ID — Fire Department State — Incident (Alarm) Date — Incident Number (Identifier) — Exposure Number — Record Type/Transaction Code — Transaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
D	Fire Department ID - Receiving Aid — Fire Department State - Receiving Aid — Incident Number (Identifier) - Receiving Aid

Officer In Charge Blocks:

These blocks are collections of elements carried by the ‘Officer In Charge’ transaction.

Block	Elements
A	Fire Department ID — Fire Department State — Incident (Alarm) Date — Incident Number (Identifier) — Exposure Number — Record Type/Transaction Code — Transaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
M	Authority In Charge Personnel ID — Authority In Charge First Name — Authority In Charge Middle Initial — Authority In Charge Last Name — Authority In Charge Rank — Authority In Charge Assignment — Authority In Charge Date

Member Making Report Blocks:

These blocks are collections of elements carried by the ‘Member Making Report’ transaction.

Block	Elements
A	Fire Department ID — Fire Department State — Incident (Alarm) Date — Incident Number (Identifier) — Exposure Number — Record Type/Transaction Code — Transaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
M	Authority Reporting Personnel ID — Authority Reporting First Name — Authority Reporting Middle Initial — Authority Reporting Last Name — Authority Reporting Rank — Authority Reporting Assignment — Authority Reporting Date

Incident Remarks Blocks:

These blocks are collections of elements carried by the ‘Incident Remarks’ transaction.

Block	Elements
A	Fire Department ID — Fire Department State — Incident (Alarm) Date — Incident Number (Identifier) — Exposure Number — Record Type/Transaction Code — Transaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
L1	Remarks

Special Study Blocks:

These blocks are collections of elements carried by the ‘Special Study’ transaction.

Block	Elements
A	Fire Department ID — Fire Department State — Incident (Alarm) Date — Incident Number (Identifier) — Exposure Number — Record Type/Transaction Code — Transaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
E3	Special Study Sequence Number — Special Study Identification Number — Special Study Code

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