By Bill Carey
Gov1
COLUMBIA, Md. — The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) platform launched on Nov. 4, bringing a modernized approach to incident data collection and delivering critical intelligence to fire departments nationwide.
Developed in partnership with the American fire service, NERIS is a secure, cloud-based platform designed to capture all-hazards incident data and offer analytic tools that provide local fire and emergency service leaders with near-real-time insights, according to the Fire Safety Research Institute.
“NERIS represents a new era for the fire service,” FSRI Vice President and Executive Director Steve Kerber said. “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.”
The launch of NERIS marks years of collaboration to equip 27,000 fire and EMS departments with modern data tools, helping them tackle evolving risks like lithium-ion battery incidents, wildland-urban fires and extreme weather.
“NERIS is about finally understanding our fire problem and shaping the future of our fire response,” U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell said. “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.”
After successful beta testing with over 60 fire departments, NERIS Version 1 will expand to 105 more by late 2024. A full nationwide rollout will begin in January 2025, eventually replacing the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) as the primary incident reporting tool for U.S. fire and EMS departments.
NERIS will replace NFIRS, which will stay active through 2025 before retiring in early 2026. Departments should continue using NFIRS until fully transitioned to NERIS.
