NERIS Documentation - Scene Information

NERIS Documentation - Scene Information

Purpose Statement

The Scene Information tab in NERIS fire reports enables fire personnel to document critical scene characteristics and environmental conditions at fire incidents. This dynamic section adapts based on the Primary Incident Type Found, ensuring relevant data collection that supports accurate fire investigation reporting, compliance with NFIRS standards, and analysis of fire behavior patterns.

Background Information

The Scene tab is a core component of the NERIS fire reporting module within First Due. This section captures essential details about property types, fire spread patterns, hazardous materials involvement, and environmental factors that influenced the incident. The dynamic nature of this tab ensures that responders only see fields relevant to their specific incident type, streamlining data entry while maintaining comprehensive documentation standards required for state and federal reporting.
Understanding scene characteristics is crucial for:
  • Accurate fire cause determination
  • Compliance with NFIRS reporting requirements
  • Pattern analysis for prevention strategies
  • Resource allocation and response planning
  • Insurance and legal documentation

Required Permissions

To access and complete the Scene Information tab in NERIS fire reports, users must have:

  • Fire Reporting Module - Access to create and edit fire reports
  • NERIS/NFIRS Permissions - Ability to complete incident reports
  • Field User or higher - Permission level to document incident details

Administrators can configure these permissions in the User Management section under Settings.

Video

Step-by-Step Guide


1. From the Size Up section select on the Scene tab within a fire report.

Info
Scene tab is a dynamic section and will reflect fields based on the Primary Incident Type Found.


From the Size Up section select on the Scene tab.



2. From within the Scene you are able to document the property type where the incident occurred along with any additional property types or if used as a mixed property.


From within the Scene you are able to document what the property type was where the incident occurred along with any additional property types or if used as a mixed property.



3. Using the toggles to indicate any High Hazard IBC Classification, if equipment or vehicles where involved, along with (Was confined to the object of origin?).
  1. If equipment or vehicle is involved note you can navigate to document the details of either the equipment or vehicle by selecting the Details link.


Using the toggles to indicate any High Hazard IBC Classification, if equipment or vehicles where involved, along with if it was confined to the object of origin.



4. When vehicle is involved and equipment was not you will then be able to document Vehicle involvement using the dropdown/list view.





5. From these three fields you are able to document property information using the dropdown/list view.
  1. Items First Ignited
  2. Type of Material First Ignited
  3. Fire Spread





6. If (Was fire confined to object of origin?) toggle is enabled then the Fire Spread field will not populate.





7. Fields that have a dropdown/list view to choose from are indicated with the icon.
  1. Dropdown/List fields include:
    1. Type of Nearest Right of Way
    2. Relative Slope Position
    3. Aspect
    4. HazMat Released





8. When documenting integer fields select the field and then type a numeric value.
  1. Integer fields:
    1. Distance from nearest Right of Way
    2. Elevation in Feet
    3. Flame Length
    4. Rate of spread (Chains per hour) - A chain is a surveying unit equivalent to 66 feet and measures how quickly a fire moves across the landscape.






9. When selecting Special HazMat actions required or spill >= 55 gal. new fields will populate.





10. The three new fields that appear along with two toggle choices.
  1. Fields:
    1. Released From
    2. Area Affected
    3. Area Affected Unit
  2. Toggles:
    1. Was equipment or vehicle involved in the release


The three new fields that appear are along with two toggle choices.



11. The Released From and Area Affected Unit are both dropdown/list choices where Area Affected is an integer field.





12. If equipment or vehicle is involved in the release,  you can navigate to document the details of either the equipment or vehicle by selecting the Details link.


When the toggles are enabled that equipment or vehicles were involved in the release you are able to use the Details link to document that information.


Best Practices

Do:

  • Complete the Scene tab immediately after Size Up while details are fresh
  • Use the "confined to object of origin" toggle accurately, as it impacts available fields
  • Document flame length and rate of spread for wildland or exterior fires
  • Utilize the Details links for equipment and vehicles to maintain comprehensive records
  • Double-check HazMat documentation for accuracy when spills exceed 55 gallons
  • Reference NFIRS coding manuals when uncertain about dropdown selections

Don't:

  • Skip environmental fields (slope, aspect, elevation) for outdoor fires—these are critical for analysis
  • Estimate numeric values without measurement or reasonable assessment
  • Overlook the mixed property indicator for properties with multiple uses
  • Forget to document vehicle or equipment details when involved in the incident

Tips:

  • The dynamic nature of the Scene tab means some fields only appear based on previous selections—pay attention to how your choices affect available options
  • Rate of spread in chains per hour is specific to wildland fire terminology; familiarize yourself with this measurement
  • For HazMat incidents, ensure your documentation aligns with your department's HazMat response protocols

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: Why isn't the Fire Spread field appearing?
 A: If you've enabled the toggle "Was confined to the object of origin?", the Fire Spread field will not display because the fire did not spread beyond its origin point.

Q: I can't find the vehicle or equipment details section.
 A: The Details link only appears after you've indicated that equipment or a vehicle was involved using the appropriate toggle. Enable the toggle first, then the Details link will become available.

Q: What if I don't know the exact elevation or distance from right of way?
 A: Use your best estimate based on mapping tools or known landmarks. Approximate values are acceptable when exact measurements aren't available during incident operations.

Q: The Scene tab looks different than expected. Why?
 A: The Scene tab is dynamic and changes based on the Primary Incident Type Found. Structure fires, wildland fires, and vehicle fires will show different field combinations.

Q: What's the difference between "equipment involved" in the main section versus "equipment involved in the release"?
 A: The first toggle indicates equipment involvement in the incident itself. The second toggle (in the HazMat section) specifically indicates whether equipment was the source or contributor to a hazardous material release.

Q: How do I know which fields are dropdown/list views?
 A: Fields with dropdown/list options are indicated by a dropdown icon. Click the field to view available options.


Related Articles

​
  1. NERIS Documentation - Weather
  2. NERIS Documentation - Dispatch
  3. NERIS Documentation - Station Response

    • Related Articles

    • Completing an Incident Report - Size Up

      Purpose Statement The Size-up section of the Incident Report captures critical scene details, environmental conditions, and initial assessment information that occurred upon arrival at an incident. This section helps document the conditions first ...

    • Fire Investigations - Scene Information

      Purpose The purpose of this Knowledge Base Article is to instruct users on how to add Scene Information in the Fire Investigations module. Video Instructions 1. Navigate to the Fire Investigation Module. 2. Select the Investigations List. 3. Click on ...

    • Fire Incident Setup - Size up and Operations

      Purpose Statement The Fire Incident Documentation Settings feature enables administrators to customize data collection fields and requirements for fire incident reports within First Due. This configuration ensures your department captures all ...

    • Fire Incident Setup - Narrative Template

      Purpose Statement Narrative templates in First Due streamline fire incident documentation by providing pre-formatted text blocks that crews can quickly insert into incident reports. This feature reduces documentation time, ensures consistent report ...

    • Fire Incident Documentation Release Notes: November 2025

      New Features Implement Unit Actions Behavior for Aiding Apparatus in NERIS What - NERIS now properly handles Actions Taken for Aiding Apparatus, ensuring that deleting apparatus with incomplete action data no longer triggers invalid validation errors ...