Introducing NERIS

The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is an online tool that improves how fire incidents are reported and analyzed. NERIS will replace the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

NERIS will be the main source of information and detailed analysis on fire issues in the United States. It will help state, local, territorial, and tribal fire services by providing information to manage resources, prepare, and coordinate more effectively and safely.

NERIS is supported by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology.

NERIS FAQ

What will happen to NFIRS?

NFIRS will go away on February 22, 2026. You won’t be able to submit new incidents after 2025.

When will NERIS be available to Texas fire departments?

NERIS will be rolled out by regions and phases in the United States. Texas fire departments will start using NERIS July 1, 2025. Some are already using it.

Fire departments should expect an email with instructions. Reference NERIS’ onboarding steps/checklist for help with the transition.

Will NFIRS data be available after the transition to NERIS?

NFIRS historical data (1980 –2025) will be on the Public Data Release (PDR) on OpenFEMA.

Will I need to keep my NFIRS data?

NFIRS data won’t connect with NERIS. Fire departments will need to comply with local records retention policies and decide if they need to download historical incident records from NFIRS. Get more information: NERIS Transition: Exporting Data from eNFIRS.

Fire departments with a Records Management System (RMS) or other local storage might not have to retrieve data from NFIRS.

Will NERIS work with existing third-party RMS and CAD systems?

NERIS will work with third-party RMS and CAD systems. The NERIS Integration Partner webpage has a list of RMS vendors that received the “NERIS V1 Data Exchange Compatible” badge from the Fire Safety Research Institute. The compatibility badge means a vendor’s software is capable of data exchange with the NERIS platform. This will streamline incident reporting with vendors.

How does NERIS participation affect federal funding and grants?

Participation in NERIS isn’t state-mandated. However, many funding and grant opportunities require participation, including all FEMA grants administered by the US Fire Academy.

Fire departments that receive FEMA grants must report during the grant's period of performance. If a grantee stops reporting incidents during that period, their award may be changed or withdrawn.

What is a NERIS ID?

A NERIS Entity ID is a 10-digit alpha-numeric identifier for entities in the NERIS platform. The NERIS ID will replace FDIDs.

Do I need to report incident data to both NFIRS and NERIS?

Don’t report in both systems. Fire departments who report incident data in NERIS should stop reporting to NFIRS.

For more information, email neris@ul.org.

NFIRS to NERIS transition: Important dates

All NFIRS data (including 2025) is due before January 31, 2026. You won’t be able to add or update NFIRS incidents after this date.

• NFIRS 2024 data due – April 1, 2025
• NERIS Texas region rollout – July 1, 2025
• NFIRS data submission deadline (including 2025 data) – January 31, 2026
• NFIRS partially non-functional – February 1, 2026
• NFIRS goes away – February 22, 2026

Why is Texas transitioning to NERIS?

Unlike some states that have their own centralized databases for fire incidents, Texas doesn’t have a dedicated state-level system for collecting and managing this data.

The only way for Texas fire departments to get this data is through NERIS. NERIS data is the only comprehensive, professional snapshot of fire activity in the state. Without strong participation from Texas fire departments, the data and statistics related to fire incidents in Texas is incomplete and possibly misleading.

Texas fire departments are encouraged to transition to NERIS for:

• Improved data quality: NERIS offers enhanced data validation and standardization, leading to more accurate and reliable fire incident information.
• Improved data analysis: NERIS offers stronger tools for analyzing data. This helps to identify trends, risks, and areas that need improvement.
• Updated technology: NERIS is an online system with an easy-to-use design, accessible on different devices.
• National consistency: NERIS supports collecting data in the same way across the country. This makes it easier to compare data and set standards.
• Streamlined easier reporting: NERIS makes reporting simpler with easy-to-use data entry and checking features.
• Improved data accessibility: Access your department's data and national fire data trends easily through the NERIS platform.
• Better decision-making: Use data to guide local plans for fire prevention, resource distribution, and reducing community risks.
• Federal reporting compliance: NERIS satisfies federal reporting requirements, reducing administrative burden.
• Support and training: Complete training and support will be available from USFA and FSRI.