Purpose Statement
This guide provides Fire/EMS personnel with a comprehensive understanding of NERIS apparatus and unit types. The system enables accurate identification and reporting of emergency response equipment by standardizing unit classifications across all departments. This ensures proper resource tracking, improves mutual aid coordination, and supports compliance with federal reporting requirements.
Background Information
NERIS delivers precise classifications for apparatus and unit types, including modern fire service teams and emergency vehicles. These updates are designed to support accurate and actionable data collection that reflects today's operational realities.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Understanding Primary Categories
NERIS unit types are organized by primary discipline:
- Structural Firefighting: Traditional fire apparatus and equipment
- Wildland Firefighting: Specialized wildland response units
- Medical: EMS and medical response equipment
- Specialized Unit Types: Hazmat, decontamination, and investigation units
2. Selecting Appropriate Unit Types
Choose the most specific unit type that accurately describes your apparatus:
- Review the definition and editorial description
- Match your equipment capabilities to the NERIS value
- Consider operational use rather than just physical characteristics
3. Entering your NERIS Apparatus Type
Access the apparatus record from the Apparatus Overview or Apparatus List and select the appropriate type from the dropdown of the NERIS Apparatus Type field.
NERIS Apparatus Unit Type Dictionary
Each table below breaks down all NERIS Apparatus selections by type based on response use case. Some apparatus types have an expanded definition while all types have the corresponding NERIS value that is sent during all NERIS incident report exports.
All NERIS Apparatus/Unit Types
| Definition | NERIS Value |
| Engine (Structural) | ENGINE_STRUCT TENDER |
| Water Tender/Tanker | TENDER |
| Engine (Wildland Interface) | CREW |
| Hand Crew | CREW_TRANS |
| Fire / Rescue Boat, Small (Craft Length of <20) | BOAT |
| Fire Boat, Large (Craft Length of 20+ feet) | BOAT_LARGE |
| Ladder or Truck, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder <75' No Suppression Capability | LADDER_SMALL |
| Ladder or Truck, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder <75' Suppression Capable | LADDER_QUINT |
| Ladder or Truck, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder 75'+ No Suppression Capability | LADDER_TALL |
| Ladder or Truck, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder 75'+ Suppression Capable | QUINT_TALL |
| Ladder or Truck, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder 75'+ Suppression Capable | PLATFORM |
| Elevated Platform, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder 75' with Suppression Capability | PLATFORM_QUINT |
| Tractor-drawn Aerial unit | LADDER_TILLER |
| ARFF Response Vehicle | ARFF |
| Foam Tender | FOAM |
Helicopter, Multi-use | HELO_GENERAL |
Helicopter, Fire Suppression | HELO_FIRE |
Helicopter, Rescue/EMS | HELO_RESCUE |
Drone/UAV - Fire Suppression | UAS_FIRE |
Drone/UAV - Recon or Situational Awareness | UAS_RECON |
Fixed Wing, Fire Suppression | AIR_TANKER |
Ambulance, ALS | ALS_AMB |
Ambulance, BLS | BLS_AMB |
EMS Response Vehicle (Non-Transport) | EMS_NOTRANS |
EMS Supervisor | EMS_SUPV |
Medical Ambulance Bus (MAB) | MAB |
Chief/Staff/Command Officer | CHIEF_STAFF_COMMAND |
Structural Firefighting Units
Definition | NERIS Value |
Engine (Structural) | ENGINE_STRUCT TENDER |
Water Tender/Tanker | TENDER |
Ladder or Truck, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder <75' No Suppression Capability | LADDER_SMALL |
Ladder or Truck, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder <75' No Suppression Capability | LADDER_QUINT |
Ladder or Truck, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder <75' Suppression Capable | LADDER_TALL |
Ladder or Truck, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder >75' No Suppression Capability | QUINT_TALL |
Ladder or Truck, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder >75' Suppression Capable | PLATFORM |
Elevated Platform, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder 75' No Suppression Capability | PLATFORM_QUINT |
Tractor-drawn Aerial unit | LADDER_TILLER |
Foam Tender | FOAM |
Chief/Staff/Command Officer | CHIEF_STAFF_COMMAND |
Privately Owned Vehicle | POV |
SCBA Support Unit | SCBA |
Air and Light Unit | AIR_LIGHT |
Rehabilitation or Canteen Unit | REHAB |
Fire investigation Unit | INVEST |
General Purpose/Utility Unit | UTIL |
Wildland Firefighting Units
| Definition | NERIS Value |
| Engine (Wildland Interface) | ENGINE_WUI |
| Hand Crew | CREW |
| Crew Transport | CREW_TRANS |
| Helicopter, Multi-use | HELO_GENERAL |
| Helicopter, Fire Suppression | HELO_FIRE |
| Drone/UAV - Fire Suppression | UAS_FIRE |
| Drone/UAV - Recon or Situational Awareness | UAS_RECON |
| Fixed Wing, Fire Suppression | AIR_TANKER |
| Fixed Wing, Recon or Other | AIR_RECON |
| Mobile Command Post | MOBILE_ICP |
| Mobile Communications Equipment | MOBILE_COMMS |
| Bulldozer / Dozer | DOZER |
| Other Ground Equipment | OTHER_GROUND |
| All Terrain Vehicle, Fire Suppression | ATV_FIRE |
| General Purpose/Utility Unit | UTIL |
Medical Units
| Definition | NERIS Value |
| Helicopter, Rescue/EMS | HELO_RESCUE |
| Fixed Wing, EMS | AIR_EMS |
| Ambulance, ALS | ALS_AMB |
| Ambulance, BLS | BLS_AMB |
| EMS Response Vehicle (Non-Transport) | EMS_NOTRANS |
| EMS Supervisor | EMS_SUPV |
| Medical Ambulance Bus (MAB) | MAB |
| All Terrain Vehicle, EMS/Rescue | ATV_EMS |
Rescue, ATV, and UAV Units
| Definition | NERIS Value |
| Drone/UAV - Recon or Situational Awareness | UAS_RECON |
| Rescue Unit, Multi-Function, Heavy | RESCUE_HEAVY |
| Rescue Unit, Multi-Function, Medium | RESCUE_MEDIUM |
| Rescue Unit, Multi-Function, Light | RESCUE_LIGHT |
| Rescue Unit, US&R | RESCUE_USAR |
| Rescue Unit, US&R | RESCUE_WATER |
| All Terrain Vehicle, EMS/Rescue | ATV_EMS |
Specialized Units
| Definition | NERIS Value |
| Hazardous Materials Unit | HAZMAT |
| Decontamination Unit | DECON |
| Rehabilitation or Canteen Unit | REHAB |
| Fire investigation Unit | INVEST |
| Hazardous Materials Unit | HAZMAT |
| Decontamination Unit | DECON |
| Privately Owned Vehicle | POV |
| Rescue Unit, Multi-Function, Heavy | RESCUE_HEAVY |
| Rescue Unit, Multi-Function, Medium | RESCUE_MEDIUM |
| Rescue Unit, Multi-Function, Light | RESCUE_LIGHT |
| Rescue Unit, Water Rescue | RESCUE_WATER |
| SCBA Support Unit | SCBA |
| Air and Light Unit | AIR_LIGHT |
| Rehabilitation or Canteen Unit | REHAB |
| Mobile Command Post | MOBILE_ICP |
| Mobile Communications Equipment | MOBILE_COMS |
| Bulldozer / Dozer | DOZER |
| Other Ground Equipment | OTHER_GROUND |
All Terrain Vehicle, EMS Rescue | ATV_EMS |
| All Terrain Vehicle, Fire Suppression | ATV_FIRE |
| Fire Investigation Unit | INVEST |
General Purpose / Utility Unit | UTIL |