Why NERIS Is Being Developed
The current NFIRS system, initially designed in 1976, has served the fire service for decades but is showing its limitations in our increasingly data-driven world. The existing system "does not fulfill modern data analysis and decision support requirements of fire and emergency responders and is technologically antiquated."
NERIS aims to address several critical challenges faced by fire and emergency services:
- Enhanced data quality with more consistent and reliable data entries
- Prompt data availability with reduced lag between reporting and analysis
- Comprehensive data coverage for a more representative database
- Improved efficiency in resources, particularly beneficial for smaller departments
- Maximized utilization with better data analysis tools for informed decision-making
Timeline for Implementation
If you're planning your department's technology roadmap, here's what you need to know about the NERIS rollout:
NERIS Version 1.0 was launched in fall 2024, followed by a comprehensive onboarding campaign for fire departments. The system will continue to evolve with updated versions released periodically throughout 2025 and beyond, incorporating user feedback and new technological developments.
Following successful beta testing, NERIS will undergo a full national rollout starting in 2025. During this transition period, NFIRS will remain operational throughout 2025, ensuring departments can smoothly shift to the new platform.
How NERIS Will Improve Outcomes
For combination departments like yours focusing on response times, firefighter safety, and ISO ratings, NERIS offers significant advantages:
The new system will deliver several improvements, including:
- Streamlined incident data models and schemas that standardize information
- Integration with existing third-party systems including CAD, RMS, and GIS through APIs
- Faster analysis capabilities for understanding incident trends
- Comprehensive all-hazards approach instead of just fire-focused data
- Advanced analytics tools for identifying trends and resource requirements
- A user-friendly interface designed specifically for first responders
How StreetWise Integrates with NERIS
As your department prepares for this transition, you'll be pleased to know that StreetWise is ready to work seamlessly with the new NERIS platform:
StreetWise has developed a standard RMS export that can send incident data to any records management system, effectively automating the process of entering incident addresses, alarm and dispatch times, call types, and other critical information. This export is available in both XML and JSON formats, making it compatible with modern data exchange requirements.
One of the most valuable features for departments concerned with accurate response time reporting is that StreetWise's built-in status buttons can capture precise unit status timestamps and include them in the RMS export. This level of precision is especially valuable for departments where overworked dispatchers may struggle to capture accurate timestamps, leading to skewed response time reports.
What This Means for Your Department
As a fire chief or assistant chief managing a combination department with multiple stations, NERIS and its integration with StreetWise offers several strategic advantages:
- More Accurate Data for Accreditation: With StreetWise's precise timestamp capabilities feeding into NERIS, you'll have more reliable data for maintaining or improving your ISO rating and supporting accreditation requirements.
- Improved Situational Awareness: The comprehensive data model in NERIS, combined with StreetWise's real-time information sharing, enhances your department's ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
- Reduced Administrative Burden: Automated data transfer between StreetWise and your RMS, and eventually NERIS, means less manual data entry for your personnel, allowing them to focus on their primary responsibilities.
- Better Resource Allocation: With more accurate and timely data, you can make more informed decisions about staffing, equipment, and training needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About NERIS and StreetWise Integration
General NERIS Questions
Q: Will departments be required to use NERIS?
A: While the USFA encourages adoption of NERIS for the benefits of standardized national data collection, specific requirements may vary by state and jurisdiction. It's important to check with your state fire marshal's office for guidance on reporting requirements in your area.
Q: Is there a cost to use NERIS?
A: A basic stand-alone version of NERIS is being offered at no cost to local fire and EMS departments. However, departments may incur costs associated with updating their Records Management Systems to be compatible with NERIS if they wish to maintain their current record-keeping capabilities.
Q: Will our historical NFIRS data be lost during the transition?
A: No. The USFA has confirmed that historical NFIRS data will be archived in a data library that will be made publicly available. This ensures that valuable historical data remains accessible for research and analysis purposes.
Q: How will NERIS help with accreditation and ISO rating improvements?
A: NERIS will provide more accurate and comprehensive data about response times, resource allocation, and incident outcomes. This improved data quality will support accreditation documentation and may positively impact ISO ratings by demonstrating more precise emergency response capabilities.
Q: Does NERIS address emerging threats like lithium-ion battery fires and wildland-urban interface incidents?
A: Yes. NERIS is specifically designed to be more adaptable to emerging threats and changing response environments. The system will provide analytical tools for tracking and analyzing new types of incidents, including lithium-ion battery fires and incidents in the wildland-urban interface.
StreetWise and NERIS Integration
Q: Will we need to modify our current StreetWise setup to work with NERIS?
StreetWise has a standard RMS export that can send incident data to any records management system, automating the tedious process of entering incident addresses, alarm and dispatch times, call types, etc. The export is available in XML or JSON language.
If StreetWise customers use the built-in status buttons in StreetWise, those unit status timestamps can also be sent in the RMS export, allowing a level of precision that dispatchers may not be able to match. If you have overworked dispatchers capturing inaccurate unit timestamps that cause your response time reports to be skewed, let StreetWise help.
While some updates may be necessary as NERIS specifications are finalized, these will be handled through our normal software update process. Your current investment in StreetWise is protected as we transition to NERIS.
Q: How will StreetWise's timestamp data improve our reporting in NERIS?
A: StreetWise's built-in status buttons capture precise timestamps for en route, arrived, patient contact, and other critical benchmarks. This data will feed directly into your RMS system and eventually NERIS, providing more accurate response time analytics than dispatcher-entered times. This precision is particularly valuable for accreditation documentation and operational analysis.
Q: Will StreetWise support both NFIRS and NERIS during the transition period?
A: Yes. StreetWise is committed to supporting both systems during the transition period. Our standard RMS export will be updated to accommodate NERIS data requirements while maintaining compatibility with NFIRS until it's fully phased out.
Q: Can StreetWise help us prepare for NERIS now?
A: Absolutely. By fully implementing StreetWise's status buttons and incident benchmark tracking features, your department will develop the data collection habits that will make the transition to NERIS smoother. Additionally, StreetWise's data quality and consistency will provide you with a strong foundation of historical data as you move into the NERIS environment.
Q: How will StreetWise's regional data sharing capabilities work with NERIS?
A: StreetWise's regional data sharing for mutual aid will complement NERIS's comprehensive approach to data collection. When multiple agencies respond to the same incident, StreetWise ensures consistent information sharing during the response, while NERIS will provide a standardized framework for post-incident reporting across agencies.
Preparing for the Transition
While awaiting the full implementation of NERIS, here's what your department should do:
- Stay informed about NERIS updates through newsletters, websites, webinars, and public events
- Maintain your existing incident data reporting protocols via NFIRS
- If purchasing new CAD or RMS systems, ensure they provide interoperable data services as APIs for seamless integration with NERIS
Additionally, we recommend:
- Review your current StreetWise implementation to ensure you're fully utilizing the status button capabilities for precise timestamp recording
- Train your personnel on the importance of accurate data entry and status updates in preparation for the enhanced analytics NERIS will provide
- Consider establishing a NERIS transition team within your department to evaluate your current data collection practices and identify areas for improvement
The Power of Integration: StreetWise and NERIS Working Together
The combination of StreetWise's real-time operational data collection and NERIS's comprehensive analytical capabilities creates a powerful ecosystem for fire and EMS departments. This integration bridges the gap between field operations and administrative reporting, ensuring that the valuable data captured during emergency response directly enhances your department's reporting, analysis, and planning capabilities.
For departments already using StreetWise's integration with RMS providers, the pathway to NERIS compliance will be streamlined. The same precise timestamp data and incident information that currently flows from StreetWise to your RMS will support your NERIS reporting requirements once the new system is implemented.
The Bottom Line
For progressive, safety-focused fire departments like yours, NERIS represents a significant opportunity to enhance data-driven decision-making. With StreetWise's integration capabilities, you're well-positioned to leverage this new system for improved response times, enhanced firefighter safety, and better resource allocation.
As the NERIS rollout approaches, StreetWise remains committed to supporting your department through this transition with solutions that prioritize ease of use while delivering the robust functionality you need to protect your community. Our development team is actively monitoring NERIS specifications and will ensure that StreetWise maintains full compatibility with this important new national standard.
For more information about how StreetWise can help your department prepare for NERIS, contact our team today. Our experts can provide a personalized assessment of your current setup and recommend specific strategies to optimize your data collection practices in preparation for the NERIS transition.