NERIS - Fire Incident Documentation

NERIS - Fire Incident Documentation

Timeline


We’re excited to share important updates on First Due’s transition to the NERIS data standard. We're committed to helping your agency make a seamless transition. Below is a breakdown of what to expect in the coming months, including key dates, access instructions, and training resources.

March – Officially NERIS V1 Compliant 


April 15th - Beta Test Group  

  1. A select group of agencies will be invited to get early access to the NERIS form and participate in our beta testing process.
  2. Selected agencies will have their Test.FirstDue.com fire documentation form and data schema switched to NERIS.
  3. As part of our early access group, we need agencies to test NERIS in April 2025 and be willing to fully transition to NERIS in May/June 2025.
Visit this link to be considered for early access: NERIS Beta Test Access Request
  1. The first wave of training content and resources will be available in April. See below for more details.
May 1st - Access NERIS in Test Environment 
  1. Upon request, agencies can have Test.FirstDue.com updated to the NERIS form.
  2. This testing environment allows your organization to get familiar with the slight changes to the NERIS documentation schema.
  3. Selected agencies within the early access group can Go Live with the NERIS standard starting in May.   
To request access to NERIS in your test account submit a ticket here.  
InfoNOTE: Test.Firstdue.com replicates from production at the beginning of each month. Agencies must submit this request each month to access NERIS for testing.


June 1st – December 31st – Transition to NERIS in Production.   
  1. Making the switch to NERIS is a seamless process.
    1. First Due will manage the transition, including registering your units and stations with the NERIS repository.
    2. A written confirmation from a Chief Officer or Administrator is required to authorize the transition date. 
Alert
Please be aware that once your agency transitions to NERIS in the production environment, this change will be permanent.

Training Resources & Support

The First Due team is committed to making the transition from NFIRS to NERIS as smooth and seamless as possible.


To support all users throughout this process, we are developing a comprehensive set of training resources and support options.   
  1. Knowledge Base Articles (KBAs):
    1. Access detailed articles that explain the new NERIS fields and describe how conditional logic works based on user inputs. These articles will help users navigate the transition, ensuring they understand how to make the most of the new system. 
  2. Videos:
    1. We are developing comprehensive video tutorials that guide users through the entire process. These videos will address common workflows and showcase best practices to help users become familiar with the new reporting requirements. 
  3. Live Webinars:
    1. Starting in May, we will host a series of webinars by our expert trainers to provide hands-on guidance and answer questions.  

Summary

Going Live with NERIS

Our goal is to make you feel confident and supported as you transition to the NERIS data standard. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach these dates.  We expect the first series of training content to be released in mid-April.     
  1. April 15th 
    1. Selected Beta Test agencies will get access.  
  2. May 1st
    1. After this date, agencies can submit a support ticket requesting NERIS access within Test.FirstDue.com.   
    2. Familiarize your agency with slight changes to the NERIS documentation standard by utilizing First Due’s training content.  
  3. June 2025-December 2025 
    1. Pick a Transition date - When you’re ready for NERIS to be your documentation standard in your Production account, have a Chief Officer or Admin submit written confirmation to authorize the transition date. 
Keep an eye out for communication updates from the First Due team. 

FAQ

  1. State Timelines
    1. If your State is pushing for an earlier transition window, First Due will work with you to get your agency prepared for that timeframe.
  2. My State Fire Office said…..  
    1. Recently, we’ve seen States begin to communicate timeframes and suggested cutover times to agencies across the Country. We expect to have First Due available to meet state timelines.  
  1. How will the transition to NERIS work?   
    1. First Due simplifies the transition to NERIS by handling the entire process for you—no action is required on your part. Switching to NERIS is as easy as toggling a switch in settings. Once enabled, the NFIRS form automatically updates to the NERIS form. 
  1. So what is changing?   
    1. There’s very little change to your workflow. You’ll still access the same lists and pages to start a report, and your CAD integrations will function as usual. The main difference is that the form will now feature NERIS data fields instead of NFIRS, with all required validations seamlessly built into the form.    
  1. How does data make its way to NERIS?   
    1. Once an incident report is completed and authorized, it will automatically be submitted to NERIS via the NERIS API, which is already integrated with First Due.    
  1. Will my historic reporting be impacted?   
    1. No, all your historical reports for NFIRS incidents will remain accessible. First Due is working to map as many data fields as possible between NFIRS and NERIS so you can continue to access the same reports as before, with only a few exceptions.  






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