In May 2023, the U.S. Fire Administration announced it would be replacing the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) with a new program designed to reduce information silos, enhance data quality and availability, and provide effective analysis. The new National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) platform will launch later this fall, following a rollout campaign to onboard fire departments and agencies into the new system.
“Once launched, the new NERIS platform will provide capabilities for documenting and introducing community risk reduction efforts, associated resilience and mitigation efforts into the overall preparedness and resilience equation, providing greater insights into vulnerability gaps where resources can be used to harden communities and minimize future emergency and disaster events.”
We’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions about the new data reporting system, as well as a plethora of resources to help your department understand what comes next.
How is your department planning for the switch? Is there an NFIRS feature you hope is included in the new program? Or a bug you’re desperate to leave behind? Email the editor, and let us know your thoughts on the upcoming changes.
What is NERIS?
Created by the USFA in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and in collaboration with the FSRI and the UL Research Institutes, NERIS is “an all-hazards platform built to equip the fire and emergency service community with the necessary data and tools to improve decision-making and support enhanced incident preparedness.” The cloud-based application will allow agencies to “enhance baseline incident data.”
NERIS will replace the previously used NFIRS program.
Why was NERIS created?
The decision to modernize the fire service’s data reporting system was made after determining the limitations of NFIRS and securing grant funding for the creation of the new platform. Considering the framework for the legacy NFIRS system was designed in 1976, the new NERIS system is built to adapt to innovations in technology as a collaborative data tool that provides more information and analysis to users.
When will the NERIS platform launch?
NERIS version 1.0 will launch in fall 2024 with a rollout campaign to onboard departments. Full launch takes place January 2026.
When should my department stop using NFIRS?
Following the official NERIS platform launch, a rollout campaign will assist with onboarding fire departments to the new system. Until your department is fully migrated and onboarded, you should continue using NFIRS to track data.
What will happen to existing NFIRS data?
Once the new NERIS platform is fully integrated and in use by the fire service, the legacy NFIRS system will be decommissioned and the data will be archived in a public database available for viewing.
Who will have access to input/retrieve data with NERIS?
All verified fire departments, first responders and emergency response teams will have access to the NERIS platform, as well as authorized stakeholders, such as state and federal agencies, “for research, analysis and policy development,” at no cost.
Will users access the NERIS system with their current FDID number?
As users and entities are onboarded, each will be issued a 10-digit alpha-numeric identifier for use with the NERIS system. This will replace the previous FDID numbers used to access NFIRS.
The first two digits in each NERIS identifier describe the entity type of the user; for example, an identifier with “FD” as the first two digits is a fire department. The five middle digits are numbers that identify the entity’s geographic location. The final three digits are randomly generated numbers to “ensure uniqueness” among multiple entities of the same type in the same location.
Where can authorized users access the NERIS platform?
The NERIS platform was designed with a mobile-first approach, making the information available and accessible on smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers with an internet connection.
Beyond agency reporting, what additional data is NERIS designed to integrate?
The NERIS platform is designed to integrate multiple data sources, including local CAD and RMS systems currently in use, as well as federal wildland data from InFORM and IRWIN. Additionally, NERIS will leverage relevant data from a variety of other public data sources, including the National Weather Service, the National Interagency Fire Center, the National Association of State Foresters, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Infrastructure Foundation Level Data, among others.
Developers are also planning to provide open forums to “allow for technical exchange on NERIS development and future integration efforts.”
What can NERIS do for data reporting and analysis that NFIRS can’t?
There are several improvements in NERIS data reporting over the current NFIRS system, from advanced analytics, third-party data integration, an all-hazards scope of data and more. The USFA outlined nine specific areas where responders and departments will feel the changes most:
How is the NERIS data displayed and analyzed?
Once migrated into the system, each fire department will have a personalized dashboard with a tailorized view of their data. Additionally, data will be “available as interoperable data services via APIs in multiple formats,” allowing users to perform advanced searches of the data more easily and enabling seamless integration with other analysis tools and reporting software.
How quickly will data be displayed in NERIS?
Data should be available in “near-real-time,” depending on various factors, including system architecture, fire department participation, user verification and data security protocols.
How can I keep up with the latest NERIS developments?
For the most recent updates on the NERIS platform rollout and migration, subscribe to FSRI’s “NERIS Ready” newsletter. For more information, check out the resources below; if you need specific help, send an email to the NERIS Information Desk.
Webinar
USFA: Modernizing the U.S. Fire Data System
Documents & PDFs
NERIS Core Data Schemas Executive Guide
- Provides guidance on three core NERIS data schemas:
- Entity Specification for Fire Departments
- Dispatch (CAD) Data Schema
- Incident Data Schema
This article, originally published on July 25, 2024, has been updated.
