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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 IDFire Department StateIncident (Alarm) DateIncident Number (Identifier)Exposure NumberRecord Type/Transaction CodeTransaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
C Incident Type
B Address recorded on Wildland Module (Form)
D Aid Given or Received
E1 Alarm Date TimeArrival Date TimeIncident Controlled Date TimeLast Unit Cleared Date Time
E2 ShiftAlarmsDistrict
F Actions Taken
G1 Resource Module (Form) UsedSuppression ApparatusEMS ApparatusOther ApparatusSuppression PersonnelEMS PersonnelOther PersonnelResources Include Mutual Aid
G2 Property LossContents LossProperty ValueContents Value
H1 Fire Service DeathsOther DeathsFire Service InjuriesOther 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 IDFire Department StateIncident (Alarm) DateIncident Number (Identifier)Exposure NumberRecord Type/Transaction CodeTransaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
B Census TractLocation TypeNumber or MilepostStreet PrefixStreet or Highway NameStreet TypeStreet SuffixApartment NumberCityStateZipCross 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 IDFire Department StateIncident (Alarm) DateIncident Number (Identifier)Exposure NumberRecord Type/Transaction CodeTransaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
D Fire Department ID - Receiving AidFire Department State - Receiving AidIncident 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 IDFire Department StateIncident (Alarm) DateIncident Number (Identifier)Exposure NumberRecord Type/Transaction CodeTransaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
M Authority In Charge Personnel IDAuthority In Charge First NameAuthority In Charge Middle InitialAuthority In Charge Last NameAuthority In Charge RankAuthority In Charge AssignmentAuthority 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 IDFire Department StateIncident (Alarm) DateIncident Number (Identifier)Exposure NumberRecord Type/Transaction CodeTransaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
M Authority Reporting Personnel IDAuthority Reporting First NameAuthority Reporting Middle InitialAuthority Reporting Last NameAuthority Reporting RankAuthority Reporting AssignmentAuthority Reporting Date

Incident Remarks Blocks:

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

Block  Elements 
A Fire Department IDFire Department StateIncident (Alarm) DateIncident Number (Identifier)Exposure NumberRecord Type/Transaction CodeTransaction 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 IDFire Department StateIncident (Alarm) DateIncident Number (Identifier)Exposure NumberRecord Type/Transaction CodeTransaction Type (Add, Update, Delete)
E3 Special Study Sequence NumberSpecial Study Identification NumberSpecial Study Code
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For more information see the NFIRS Cheat Sheet, NFIRS Coding and contact Responserack to learn about our fire department software.