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NFIRS vs NERIS: Key Field Differences by Section

Purpose Statement

This article provides a structured comparison between NFIRS and NERIS, highlighting key differences in fields, layout, and functionality. It is designed to help users transition from NFIRS to NERIS by clearly identifying what has changed, moved, or been newly introduced.

Background Information

As departments transition from NFIRS to NERIS, understanding how incident documentation differs is critical for accurate reporting and compliance. While many core concepts remain the same, NERIS introduces new fields, removes NFIRS-specific numbering systems, and reorganizes sections for improved usability and data capture.

This guide walks through each section of an incident report, comparing NFIRS and NERIS side-by-side.

Note: Changes are described explicitly (e.g., New Field, Location Changed, No Change). NFIRS coding references have been removed where applicable.

Required Permissions

  • Incident Reporting Access
  • Create/Edit Incident Permissions
  • Apparatus & Personnel Module Access
  • Administrative Permissions (if configuration visibility is required)

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Response → Dispatch

  1. Incident Number – No change
  2. Dispatch Number – No change
  3. PSAP Call – No change
  4. PSAP Call Answered – New field
  5. Dispatch Notified – New field
  6. Command Established – New field
  7. Dispatched Incident Type – Same function, moved location
  8. Primary Incident Type Found – New field (replaces NFIRS Incident Type)
  9. Secondary Incident Type Found – New field
  10. Tertiary Incident Type Found – New field
  11. Special Incident Modifier – New field
  12. Fire Condition on Dispatch – New field
  13. Notification Type – Location changed
  14. Station – Location changed
  15. Shift – Location changed
  16. Alarms – Location changed

2. Location

  1. Address Line 1 – No change
  2. Unit/Suite – No change
  3. State – No change
  4. City – No change
  5. Zip Code – No change
  6. Location Type – Same content, no NFIRS numbering
  7. Location Use Type – New field
  8. Specific Use – New field
  9. Toggle Section – Four new conditional fields
  10. Reason Location Not in Use – New field
  11. Response Zone – No change
  12. Fire Zone – No change
  13. Population Density – Same content, no NFIRS numbering

3. Apparatus

3.1 Apparatus Overview

  1. Apparatus Main Page – No change

3.2 Apparatus Details

  1. Apparatus Name – No change
  2. Use – Same content, no NFIRS numbering
  3. Response Mode – No change
  4. Unit in Station Toggle – No change
  5. Role – New field
  6. Actions Taken – No NFIRS numbering

3.3 Apparatus Times

  1. No changes

3.4 Apparatus Personnel

  1. Personnel Actions – No NFIRS numbering

 

3.5 Apparatus Narratives

  1. No changes

3.6 Apparatus Resources

  1. Aid Given / Received – No change
  2. Aid Direction – Updated options (Given / Received only)
  3. Aid Type – New field with updated categories
  4. Aiding Departments – No longer includes apparatus-level detail
  5. Non-Fire Aid – New field

4. Size-Up

  1. Reduced from three sections to two
  2. “Incident” subsection removed

5. Scene

  1. Property Type where Incident Occurred – No change
  2. Additional Property Type – No change
  3. Mixed Use Property – No change
  4. Toggle Section – Fields consolidated into one area
  5. Type of Material First Ignited – New location, no NFIRS numbering
  6. Type of Nearest Right of Way – New field
  7. Distance from Nearest Right of Way – New field
  8. Elevation (feet) – New field
  9. Relative Slope Position – New field
  10. Aspect – New field
  11. COVID-19 Factor – Location changed
  12. Released From – New field
  13. Toggle Area – New field
  14. Area Affected – New field
  15. Area Affected Unit – New field

6. Weather

  1. Weather Type – New field
  2. Temperature – No change
  3. Humidity – Location changed
  4. Cloudiness – New field
  5. Pressure – New field
  6. Visibility – New field
  7. Rain – New field
  8. Snow – New field
  9. Wind Speed – Location changed
  10. Wind Direction – New field
  11. Wind Gust – New field

7. People Involved

7.1 General Updates

  1. Animal Rescue – New section
  2. Gender – Expanded options
  3. Additional Addresses – Added

 

7.2 Civilian / EMS Patient

  1. All other fields remain the same
  2. Gender – Expanded options
  3. Additional Addresses – Added

 

7.3 Casualty (Major Updates)

  1. Rescue Type – New field
  2. Occupied Presence Known – New field
  3. Initial Primary Action – New field
  4. Primary Action Taken – New field
  5. Impediment Conditions – New field
  6. Room Type – New field
  7. Elevation Type – New field
  8. Space Isolation (Gas/Heat) – New toggle
  9. Removal Path Type – New field
  10. Fire Relative Times – New field
  11. Affiliation – New field
  12. Date of Injury – New location
  13. Activity When Injured – New location
  14. Cause of Injury – New location
  15. Primary Symptom – New location
  16. Body Area Injured – New location
  17. Contributing Factors – New location
  18. Human Factors – New location
  19. Severity – New location
  20. Location at Time of Injury – New location
  21. General Location – New location
  22. Transported to Facility – New location
  23. RIT Activated – New field
  24. Casualty Type – New field
  25. Cause of Casualty – New field

 

8. Operations

  1. Command and Safety – No change
  2. Actions – No change

9. Information

9.1 Overview

  1. Multiple new sections introduced
  2. Many fields are new or relocated

 

9.2 Property Details

  1. Structure Type – New field
  2. Property Status – New field
  3. Construction Type – New field
  4. Pre-Incident Property Value – Relocated
  5. Pre-Incident Contents Value – Relocated
  6. Property Loss – Relocated
  7. Contents Loss – Relocated
  8. Floors Above Grade – New field
  9. Floors Below Grade – New field
  10. Length – New field
  11. Width – New field
  12. Square Feet – New field
  13. Monitored Alarms – New field
  14. Buildings Threatened – New field

 

9.3 Cause Determination

  1. Number of Rooms Damaged – New field
  2. Stories Damaged by Flame – New field
  3. Item First Ignited (Flame Spread) – New field
  4. Cause of HazMat Release – New field
  5. Fire/Explosion Order – New field
  6. Toggle Section - New Fields
  7. Contributing Factors – New field
  8. Mitigation Factors – New field

 

9.4 Emerging Hazards

  1. New section with selectable hazard fields

 

10. Vehicles & Equipment

  1. Vehicles – No change
  2. Equipment – No change

11. Wrap-Up

  1. Incident Impediment Section – New
  2. All other fields – No change

12. Payroll, Attachments, Associated Records

  1. Payroll – No change
  2. Attachments – No change
  3. Associated Records – No change

Best Practices

  • Do not rely on NFIRS codes—NERIS removes this dependency
  • Use new fields to improve reporting accuracy
  • Utilize secondary and tertiary incident types when applicable
  • Review toggle sections carefully (conditional fields)
  • Ensure detailed completion of casualty and scene sections

Troubleshooting & FAQs

  • Why are NFIRS codes no longer visible?
    NERIS removes NFIRS numbering and replaces it with standardized selections.
  • Why do some fields not appear?
    Many fields are conditional and appear based on prior selections.
  • Can multiple incident types still be documented?
    Yes, NERIS supports primary, secondary, and tertiary incident types.
  • Where did certain fields move?
    Many fields were reorganized into sections like “Information” or relocated within workflows.