Fire Incident Setup - Report Settings
Purpose Statement
The Report Settings tab within Fire Incident Setup allows administrators to define customized peak hour ranges for their department. This configuration enables accurate analysis of incident patterns during high-activity periods versus off-peak times, supporting data-driven decision making for staffing, resource allocation, and operational planning. Peak hour settings directly impact incident reporting filters and analytics throughout the First Due platform.
Background Information
Understanding when your department experiences the highest call volume is critical for effective resource management, shift scheduling, and budget planning. First Due's Peak Hours configuration allows you to define multiple time ranges that reflect your department's unique operational patterns—whether following traditional business hours, seasonal variations, or community-specific activity cycles.
Common Use Cases:
- Analyzing incident volume during high-traffic commute times
- Comparing staffing effectiveness between peak and off-peak periods
- Identifying resource needs for special events or seasonal patterns
- Supporting grant applications with data-driven call volume analysis
- Evaluating response times relative to high-activity versus low-activity periods
- Planning shift schedules based on historical call patterns
Required Permissions
To configure Fire Incident Report Settings, users must have the following permissions:
Required:
- Fire Incident Setup - Permission to view and modify Fire Incident configuration options
- Report Settings Configuration - Ability to edit departmental report settings
Video
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Navigate to Incident Documentation -> Fire Incident Setup -> Report Settings.
2. The default Peak Hours range is 8am to 5pm Monday - Friday.
3. Click on the pencil icon to edit "Peak Hours" for your department.
4. Select the days of the week by clicking on each day. Enter the peak hours range.
5. Click on Save.
6. To add an additional range to your department's "peak hours", click the plus icon.
7. Add additional days of the week and hour ranges to be included.
8. Peak hour selections will be reflected in Reporting -> Incidents -> Call percentage as a report filter.
Fire ​Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many peak hours ranges can I configure?
A: First Due allows multiple peak hours ranges to accommodate complex operational patterns. While there's no strict limit, most departments find that 2-4 well-defined ranges provide the best analytical value without creating confusion.
Q: Can I have different peak hours for different stations or battalions?
A: Peak hours are configured at the department level and apply to all incident reporting. For station-specific analysis, use peak hours filters in combination with station or response area filters in your incident reports.
Q: Do peak hours affect how incidents are documented in the field?
A: No. Peak hours configuration only impacts reporting and analytics. Field personnel document incidents the same way regardless of when they occur. The peak hours designation is applied during reporting and analysis.
Q: How do peak hours relate to NFIRS reporting requirements?
A: Peak hours are First Due analytics feature and are separate from NFIRS required fields. However, understanding peak versus off-peak incident patterns can enhance your department's NFIRS data interpretation and strategic planning.
Q: Can I configure peak hours to span across midnight?
A: Yes. You can create a range such as 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM to capture late-night/early-morning peak periods. The system will correctly interpret ranges that cross the midnight boundary.
Q: What happens if I delete all peak hour's ranges?
A: If no peak hours are configured, the peak hours filter will not be available in incident reports. The default 8 AM - 5 PM Monday-Friday configuration will not automatically restore; you must manually reconfigure peak hours.
Q: How do peak hours interact with shift schedules?
A: Peak hours and shift schedules are independent configurations. Peak hours define high-activity periods for analysis, while shift schedules define when personnel are on duty. You can compare these datasets in reporting to evaluate shift alignment with call volume.
Q: Should our peak hours match our busiest times exactly?
A: Generally, yes, but consider your analytical goals. Some departments define peak hours slightly broader than the absolute busiest times to capture the "ramp up" and "wind down" periods around maximum activity.
Q: Can I export peak hours configurations for documentation?
A: Peak hours settings are stored in your department's configuration but are not directly exportable. You can document your configuration by taking screenshots or manually recording the settings in your department's SOPs.
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