The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) was launched this week as a secure, cloud-based platform to improve data collection and analysis for local fire departments across the United States, as reported by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI).
Developed in collaboration with the American fire service, NERIS Version 1 enables departments to gather comprehensive incident data across various hazards and access analytic tools in near-real time.
This platform supports fire and EMS departments with critical post-incident information, empowering them to make data-informed decisions, address community needs more effectively, and enhance public safety outcomes.
The NERIS rollout reflects a combined effort from government and non-governmental agencies alongside local emergency services.
NERIS is set to help approximately 27,000 fire and EMS departments across the United States by providing tools to navigate the complex risk environment posed by modern threats such as lithium-ion battery fires, wildland-urban interface incidents, and extreme weather.
The new platform has been developed over years of collaboration to replace the existing National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and modernize the approach to data collection and analysis in the fire service.
Following successful beta testing with over 60 departments, NERIS will onboard an additional 105 departments by the end of 2024.
A nationwide rollout to all local fire and EMS departments is expected to begin in January 2025, with NFIRS continuing to operate until early 2026 during the transition.
NERIS is designed to address the unique data needs of fire departments, improving data quality and ease of use for responders.
The platform offers free access to local fire and EMS departments, giving them tools to enhance resource allocation, optimize operations, and reduce risk.
By capturing comprehensive data, NERIS enables departments to better assess and demonstrate needs for staffing, equipment, and response improvements.
Key features of NERIS include tools for analyzing performance and resource distribution to identify gaps and improvement opportunities.
It also allows for tracking mutual aid and assessing risks at the community level, offering a shared data platform to enhance response efforts across departments.
Dr. Steve Kerber, Vice President and Executive Director at FSRI, noted NERIS’s potential for transforming fire response data: “NERIS represents a new era for the fire service.
“It will put actionable data in the hands of our firefighters, giving them the tools to better protect their communities and use resources more effectively.”
Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator, emphasized NERIS’s role in advancing fire service strategy: “NERIS is about finally understanding our fire problem and shaping the future of our fire response.
“By providing our departments with meaningful access to more accurate near real-time data – it will set the foundation for innovations that will transform how we protect our communities for many years to come.”
The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) was launched this week to modernize incident data collection for U.S. fire and EMS departments by providing a cloud-based, near-real-time data and analytics platform.
NERIS will replace the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) by early 2026, with a phased national rollout starting in 2025.
The platform’s tools are designed to support resource allocation, risk assessment, and performance review, equipping fire and EMS leaders to make data-driven decisions to address complex hazards.
Developed through collaboration with the Fire Safety Research Institute, the U.S.
Fire Administration, and DHS Science and Technology Directorate, NERIS is anticipated to improve public safety and operational efficiency in the fire service.
