Purpose Statement
Narrative Templates allow departments to create pre-formatted narrative text that crews can quickly insert into a Fire Incident report.
This feature helps reduce documentation time and supports a consistent reporting format across the department. Narrative Templates can be configured as static templates, dynamic templates, or a combination of both.
Background Information
Narrative Templates are configured within Fire Incident Setup. Once created, they can be used inside the Wrap-Up section of a Fire Incident report.
There are two types of Narrative Templates:
- Static Narrative Templates: Pre-formatted text that crews manually update after inserting it into the incident report.
- Dynamic Narrative Templates: Templates that use placeholders to pull information from completed fields within the incident report.
Dynamic placeholders can pull information from different sections of the report. For example, a template may pull the station, incident address, or officer-in-charge information, as long as those fields have already been completed in the report.
Required Permissions
Users configuring Narrative Templates should have access to Fire Incident Setup and administrative rights to manage incident documentation configuration.
Permission names may vary by agency configuration. Confirm the required permission settings in Admin > Roles & Permissions.
Recommended access may include:
- Fire Incident Documentation
- Fire Incident Setup
- Ability to create, edit, activate, deactivate, and delete Narrative Templates
- Administrative or configuration-level access
Video
Step-by-Step Guide
Navigate to Fire Incident Setup
Go to Fire Incident Documentation > Fire Incident Setup.
Create a New Narrative Template
Select New Narrative Template.
Name the Template
Enter a clear name for the Narrative Template so users can easily identify when it should be used.
Enter the Narrative Text
Begin typing the text that should appear in the narrative when the template is selected.
This text can be standard static text, dynamic placeholders, or a combination of both.
Add Dynamic Placeholders
To create a dynamic template, use the Choose Placeholder field.
Select the applicable placeholder from the dropdown list. The placeholder will pull information from the corresponding section of the Fire Incident report.
Build the Template
Continue adding text and placeholders to create the full narrative.
Example:
Station [Station Placeholder] was dispatched to [Address Line 1 Placeholder]. Officer in Charge [Officer in charge Placeholder] established Command.When the template is applied, the system will pull the completed information from the report and insert it into the narrative.
Save the Template
When the Narrative Template is complete, select Save.
Open the Fire Incident Report
Navigate to the Fire Incident report where the template will be used and go to the Wrap-Up section.
- Select Use Template
In the Wrap-Up section, select Use Template.
- Preview and Apply the Template
Locate the Narrative Template you want to use.
Select the dropdown caret to preview the template content, then select the template and choose Apply.
- Review the Inserted Narrative
Review the inserted narrative to confirm the static text and dynamic placeholder information populated correctly.
If any dynamic information is missing, confirm that the related field was completed in the Fire Incident report.
Best Practices
Use clear and specific template names so crews can quickly identify the correct template.
Use static templates for standard language that crews should manually review and update.
Use dynamic placeholders when the information already exists elsewhere in the Fire Incident report.
Confirm all required report fields are completed before applying a dynamic template.
Preview the template before applying it to verify that the correct template is being used.
Avoid creating overly long templates that may slow down documentation or make it difficult for crews to identify required updates.
Review Narrative Templates periodically to make sure they align with current department documentation standards.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Why did the dynamic placeholder not populate in the narrative?
The related field may not have been completed in the Fire Incident report. Confirm that the source field, such as station, address, or officer in charge, has information entered before applying the template.
Can a Narrative Template include both static text and dynamic placeholders?
Yes. Narrative Templates can include static text, dynamic placeholders, or both.
What is the difference between a static template and a dynamic template?
A static template contains pre-written text that crews manually update. A dynamic template uses placeholders to pull completed information from the Fire Incident report.
Where are Narrative Templates used in the Fire Incident report?
Narrative Templates are used in the Wrap-Up section of the Fire Incident report by selecting Use Template.
How can I preview a Narrative Template before applying it?
Select Use Template, find the template, and select the dropdown caret to preview the template content.
Why is information missing after applying a template?
Dynamic placeholders only populate when the related fields are completed in the Fire Incident report. Complete the missing fields and apply the template again.