NERIS
NERIS Is Coming, Is Your Fire Department Prepared?
Understanding NERIS
In a monumental stride toward bolstering emergency services nationwide, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is introducing the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) in 2026. This innovative cloud-based platform, announced on March 12th 2024, represents a paradigm shift in how local fire and emergency services access crucial information and analytical tools, poised to redefine preparedness and response strategies for a multitude of crises.
NERIS, a collaborative endevor between the USFA, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), and the American fire service, is underpinned by a robust research and development contract awarded to FSRI by DHS S&T. This partnership ensures that community needs are at the forefront of its development, leveraging the collective expertise of fire service organizations and emergency service agencies.
At its core, NERIS is engineered to harness cutting-edge geographic information system (GIS) technology, interoperable data standards, and advanced analytics, delivering location-enabled decision support to fire departments across the nation.
Some Key Features Of The Platform:
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Enhanced data integration capabilities
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User-defined analytic tools
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Support for rapid data assimilation from various sources, including computer-aided dispatch systems and geographic information systems.
NERIS is here to supersede the legacy National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), aligning with the USFA's mission to mitigate fire-related issues, minimize loss of life and property, and educate the public on fire prevention and protection.
Are You Prepared?
Looking ahead, the full production version of NERIS is predicted for release in fall 2026, with plans underway to onboard fire and emergency service departments nationwide onto this transformative platform. Throughout this transition, the legacy NFIRS will remain operational, ensuring continuity in data reporting and management until migration to NERIS is complete.
In essence, NERIS embodies a collective endeavor to empower local fire and emergency service communities with the tools and insights needed to navigate crises effectively.
What You Can Be Doing
As more is released about the NERIS platform, we at Firehouse247 will be building our tool to extract the necessary data from your CAD programs to get them into NERIS as we (so far) believe the initiative will be strongly advised should you have current CAD software in place. Over the next two years we will be looking for senior department members to bring onto our new system, to spearhead getting the nation ready for NERIS.
To discuss joining our NERIS Task Force, please click the button below to submit your enquiry.