To help your department navigate to NERIS smoothly (from NFIRS or whatever), we’ve compiled a guide with essential topics and links to in-depth articles. Here’s what you need to know.
If you need to get to NERIS, check out this public service announcement for navigating NERIS migration speed bumps. Assuming you’ve dealt with these, you are good to go submitting to NERIS.
Now you are set up, you can submit your NERIS reports. The reporting process is very similar to NFIRS, but updated.
One of the most fundamental changes in NERIS is the overhaul of incident types. The new system moves away from the legacy NFIRS codes to a more intuitive and modern classification. Understanding how your common calls will be coded is the first step.
To make the transition easier during live incidents, a quick reference guide is invaluable. We’ve created a cheat sheet that maps common NFIRS codes to their new NERIS equivalents. Keep this handy in the office and on the apparatus.
Good news! For some of the most common and complex incidents, like structure fires, NERIS aims to simplify the reporting process. The new system focuses on capturing the most critical data points without the administrative burden of the past.
NERIS introduces a more granular approach to time tracking with “tactical timestamps.” These go beyond the basic NFIRS times (dispatch, enroute, on-scene) to capture key tactical benchmarks during an incident, providing a clearer picture of the operational timeline.
Beyond the major changes, NERIS introduces several new data fields designed to capture a more complete picture of an incident. These “extras” provide valuable context about everything from building information to patient disposition.
Your fleet is also getting a data refresh. NERIS updates the classifications for apparatus and units, including adding modern resources like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, aka drones).
The transition to NERIS is an ongoing process, and the system will continue to evolve. For the latest updates, discussions, and in-depth articles, be sure to check our [collection of NERIS-related posts(/category/neris/).
By familiarizing yourself with these key areas, your department can prepare for a successful and confident transition to NERIS, ultimately contributing to a richer, more valuable national fire data set.
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