NERIS Structure Fire Reports

NERIS structure fire reports are simple and intuitive for firefighters, they ask about what we know, based on what we did and saw. NERIS doesn’t require an investigation to gather all the data, like NFIRS did.

NERIS respects human / firefighter nature … for good, timely, precise reports from every department … don’t make it painful homework, don’t make it a project. Don’t bury the important data alongside masses of extras data, or you’ll lose both.

Reporting should be the easier part:

NFIRS required things such as storage materials and containment, loss costs, structure dimensions, and much more. NERIS keeps it simple, and fire focused. To build upon (or perhaps mangle 😉 ) the “slow is smooth” quote:

Simple is smooth, and smooth is fast ...

Here is what NERIS asks:

• Arrival Condition - how was it it upon arrival? Smoke visible, fully involved?
• Suppression Appliances - what hoses, and up, did you use to put the fire out?
• Water Supply - was water used, and if so, from where?
• Building Damage - Minor, moderate, major?
• Progression Evident - Did it progress from the arrival condition? Yes/No.
• Fire Cause - if known, what caused it?
• Investigation Needed - are there investigation need, or was the cause obvious?

Arrival Condition

You gave your size-up report to your crew on a tactical channel and/or on radio to dispatch, so you know what you came up as “Arrival Condition”. Was smoke visible? Was the structure involved? Had the fire spread? Was it already out?

Progression Evident is a Yes or No on

Suppression Appliances

Suppression Appliances is a fancy way of saying “firefighting tools” from extinguishers to hoses and on up to fire helicopter. For “Suppression Appliances” did you use two and a half inch hoses - that’s “medium diameter” fire hose? Some departments get FDCs, and some fires get helitack, but then some fires need no suppression.

Water Supply

If you used water you might have used it from your apparatus tank, or you might have to nurse from other apparatus. Your “Water Supply” might’ve required a tanker/tender shuttle.

Building Damage

With NERIS there is no need for calculating percentages to describe Building Damage. It is as simple as no damage, minor damage (no occupant displacement), moderate and major (including total loss.)

Fire Cause

There is a short list of Fire Cause causes with both “other” (if something unusual) and including “unable to determine”. NERIS includes “electrical” and “battery / power storage” for today’s fire environment. “Cooking” and “act of nature” are in there too.

Investigation Needed

Investigation Needed is yes, no or a few others. No with “cause obvious” is an option.

Plus the basics too …

Of course NERIS wants to know some other details about fires, including times (especially tactical timestamps), and resource utilized (firefighters, apparatus), and location, but you can get those from your friendly Fire RMS.

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