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.

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.
 

 

 

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="No" suppression="Suppression" capability="Capability">	LADDER_SMALL
Ladder or Truck, Rear or Mid-Mount Ladder <75' suppression="Suppression" capable="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, Multiuse	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
 

Wildland Firefighting Units