A high-level guide to volunteer fire department dispatch, from traditional pagers and radios to modern smartphone apps, text messaging, and group chat solutions.

Don’t let the pursuit of perfection stop you from filing NERIS reports. Learn why your VFD’s data, even if not flawless, is vital for grants, policy-making, and telling the real story of volunteer firefighting.

What is Acme FD's NERIS ID? As the fire service transitions to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), one of the first tasks for many is simply finding a department’s official NERIS ID, and/or those of your neighboring / partner departments. This unique identifier is essential for data submission, system configuration, and inter-agency communication. Whether you’re looking for your own ID or trying to find the ID for a neighboring department, here are a few effective methods to locate it.

Discover how creative incident tagging can transform your department’s data from a simple reporting requirement into a powerful tool for building culture, preserving history, and engaging your community.

Sharing insights into your fire department can build powerful community connections, fostering trust and engagement.

From basic reporting to true firefighter engagement, discover the steps to building a resilient and thriving volunteer fire department.

The transition from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) brings many changes, one of the most fundamental being how fire departments and their resources are identified. While NFIRS used a Fire Department Identification Number (FDID) that was unique only within a state, NERIS introduces a nationally unique identifier for every entity. This ensures that data can be aggregated and analyzed on a national scale without confusion or duplication.

Things are coming & going in 2026

NFIRS is to shut down at the end of the month. File and Export your NFIRS ASAP.

Do you know fire departments not yet on NERIS? Not yet invited? You can help them.