Changing from NFIRS to NERIS
The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is coming!
NERIS is set to replace the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), which was first established in the 1970s. Since then, turnout gear, incident types, apparatus, communications, training, tactics, and technology have all evolved. The thing that has not progressed with the times is the method and nationwide standards the fire service uses to record, analyze, and show the work that they do across their communities, that extends well beyond the days of being called upon to primarily fight fires. NERIS has been developed for today’s fire service and will continue to evolve as the fire service continues to adapt for the needs of tomorrow.
Key updates
Check back for the latest information related to this change.
NERIS in Minnesota: What your fire department needs to know
Although the overarching goals, standards and timelines of NERIS may be similar across the nation, every state will roll out NERIS based on the unique fire incident reporting needs of their respective states. The following are brief, summarized key points specific to the fire service in Minnesota. For additional information, please see other resources and information throughout this page.
- When? Please see the Minnesota NFIRS and NERIS timeline. The timeline is subject to change. Please check back throughout the year for updates. Due to the coordination required from the federal level through the local fire department level, it is unlikely that individual fire departments will be approved to transition from NFIRS to NERIS outside of the provided timeline, unless they have been identified as a NERIS Early Adopter by FSRI prior to May 2025.
- Who? The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's State Fire Marshal (SFM) division is coordinating the rollout of NERIS, while partnering and collaborating with the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association (MSFCA), Minnesota State Fire Department Association (MSFDA), Emergency Communications Network (ECN), DPS Office of Communications (OOC), county-level PSAP subject matter experts, local fire departments in the NERIS early adopter program, GIS technical experts, and fire incident reporting third party vendors.
- What is changing? The look of the system, functionality, and fire incident report form from a given third-party fire incident records management system (RMS) vendor may be a similar experience. The various modules, field names, options within fields, and the information collected per the NERIS standards are different from NFIRS.
- Do I follow NFIRS or NERIS standards when filling out incident reports? Continue reporting per NFIRS standards until your specific fire department has transitioned to NERIS. All fire departments in the state will transition to NERIS in relatively the same timeframe which is projected to be in quarter four of 2025.
- Will my fire department receive any NERIS training? There will be various training and educational opportunities offered in different formats. More information to come.
- What if my department uses Elite for Fire under the state license? You can continue using Elite for Fire after the transition from NFIRS to NERIS.
ImageTrend Elite for Fire & Minnesota Fire Incident Reporting System (MFIRS) FAQs
Third-party record management systems (RMS) FAQs
National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) sunsetting FAQs
National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) FAQs
Contact Us!
Please contact the Data and Education Team with any NERIS questions.