NERIS Glossary
This glossary provides definitions for key terms used in the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) as implemented in EPR FireWorks. Use this reference when field names or concepts require clarification while completing incident documentation.
Note: NERIS is currently under development by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). Terminology and definitions may evolve as the system is finalized toward full national implementation in January 2026.
A
Accountability: A Command and Control tactic that involves tracking personnel and resources throughout an incident.
Actions and Tactics: The operational activities conducted during emergency responses, classified into functional areas such as Command and Control, Suppression, Search, etc.
Active Assailant: An individual actively engaged in harming or attempting to harm others, often with a weapon, in a confined populated area.
Aid: Assistance provided by or to other agencies during an incident, which can be classified as either given or received.
AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction): The organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or their designee. Referenced in NERIS when directing incident responsibility to the appropriate regulatory body.
Aircraft Transportation: A transportation fire subtype involving aircraft and aviation equipment.
Alarms (Non-Medical): A public service incident type involving fire, gas, or CO alarm activations without medical emergency.
All-Hazards Scope: NERIS capability to document all emergency types, not just fires, extending beyond NFIRS' limitations.
B
Back in Service: Timestamp field in the Response tab recording when a unit is cleared from the incident and available to respond to another call.
Backburn: A fire suppression tactic involving controlled burning to create firebreaks and contain wildland fires.
Biological Release/Incident: A hazardous materials subtype involving biological agents or pathogens.
Building/Structure Collapse: A rescue incident subtype involving the structural failure of a building.
C
CAD (Computer-Aided Dispatch): Software used by emergency services to dispatch resources and record incident data that integrates with NERIS.
CAD Unit ID: The identifier assigned to an apparatus by the Computer-Aided Dispatch system. Distinct from the NERIS Unit ID (assigned by NERIS for national reporting) and the Apparatus ID (assigned internally by the department).
Calculated Hours: In the Payroll tab, the system-computed time based on the unit's response record timestamps. May differ from Pay Hours if the compensable period differs from the operational period.
Carbon Monoxide Release: A hazardous materials incident subtype involving carbon monoxide.
Casualties: Individuals who are injured, killed, or otherwise affected during an incident. NERIS separately tracks both civilian and firefighter casualties.
Cause of Release (HazMat): Field in the HazMat tab documenting what caused the hazardous material to be released (e.g., container failure, accident, equipment malfunction).
CFAI (Commission on Fire Accreditation International): Accreditation body for fire and emergency service agencies. The Exclude from CFAI Reports field in the Authorization tab allows specific incidents to be omitted from accreditation reporting when applicable.
Check Status: Field in the REHAB section indicating the outcome of a responder's rehabilitation check. Options include Cleared (returned to duty), Sent to Rest (continued rehabilitation), and Transported (required medical transport).
Chemical DOT Class: Department of Transportation hazard classification of hazardous materials involved in an incident.
Civic Location: The physical address and location information of an incident, including structure type, occupancy classification, and geographic coordinates.
Command and Control: A tactical category in NERIS involving incident management structure and command functions.
Company Continuity: Field in the Firefighter Casualties section indicating whether the firefighter's company maintained operational continuity during the incident after the casualty occurred (Yes/No).
Confined Cooking/Appliance Fire: A structure fire subtype involving fires contained to cooking equipment or appliances.
Confinement: A fire suppression tactic focused on limiting fire spread within building compartments or designated areas.
CSST (Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing): A flexible gas piping system that may be involved in incidents and is specifically tracked in the Emerging Hazards module.
D
Dispatch: The initial notification and deployment of resources to an incident.
Dispatch Module: The component of NERIS that handles the initial emergency call information and resource deployment.
DOT Class: Department of Transportation hazard classification system used to categorize hazardous materials in NERIS reporting.
Door Initiated Search: A search structure tactic involving systematic room-to-room interior search.
Duty State: Field in the Firefighter Casualties section recording the firefighter's duty status at the time of the casualty (e.g., On Duty, Off Duty, Volunteer Response).
E
Electrification Category: Classification of battery or energy storage systems involved in an incident, tracked in the Emerging Hazards module.
Emerging Hazards: Modern technology hazards including battery systems, photovoltaics, and other alternative energy sources that present unique firefighting challenges.
Emergency Medical Care: A tactical category in NERIS involving patient assessment and treatment procedures.
Est. Amount Released / Amount Released (Unit): Two linked fields in the HazMat tab used together to document the quantity of released material. Enter the numeric quantity in Est. Amount Released and select the unit of measurement (gallons, pounds, litres, etc.) in Amount Released (Unit).
Evacuation: Movement of civilians to areas of safety during an incident, documented as an action/tactic.
Explosion: A special fire subtype involving detonation or rapid pressure release.
Exposure: Properties or structures damaged or destroyed as a result of the originating incident source. Each exposure is documented separately in the Address & Location tab. Example: a vehicle fire that spreads to an adjacent structure creates one exposure record per affected property.
Extrication/Entrapment: A rescue incident type involving the removal of victims from confined or trapped situations.
F
FDID (Fire Department Identification): Legacy identifier used in NFIRS, replaced by NERIS ID in the new system.
Final Incident Type: The definitive classification of an incident after assessment, which may differ from the initial dispatch type.
Fire Alarm: Detection and notification system for fires, tracked in Risk Reduction module.
Fire Control/Extinguishment: Suppression action documenting final fire elimination operations.
Fire Investigation Need: Assessment field indicating whether a formal fire investigation is required. Options include Yes, No, No — Cause Obvious, Not Applicable, Not Evaluated, and Other.
Fire Knocked Down: Tactical timestamp indicating when fire intensity has been significantly reduced.
Fire Module: The NERIS report section for documenting fire characteristics, suppression operations, and property losses. Appears when a fire incident type is selected.
Fire Suppression Appliance: Firefighting equipment used for extinguishment. The NERIS Fire tab records which appliances were deployed, including hose lines, master streams, and extinguishers.
FireWorks: The EPR Records Management System that implements NERIS for fire department incident documentation.
Forcible Entry: A tactical category involving techniques used to gain access to structures or vehicles.
Federal Declared Disaster: A special incident modifier indicating a federally recognized disaster.
Firefighter Rescue: Module tracking incidents where firefighters were rescued or assisted during emergency operations.
FSRI (Fire Safety Research Institute): Organization responsible for developing NERIS in partnership with USFA.
G
Gas Alarm: Detection system for gas leaks, tracked in the Risk Reduction module.
GIS (Geographic Information System): Mapping technology integrated with NERIS for spatial analysis of incident data.
Good Intent: A no emergency incident subtype involving calls made with good intentions but where no emergency was found.
H
Hazardous Materials: Incident type involving dangerous substances that pose risk to people, property, or environment.
HazMat (HazSit) Disposition: Field in the HazMat tab documenting the final outcome of the hazardous materials incident (e.g., contained, neutralised, evacuated).
HazMat (HazSit) Module: The NERIS report section for documenting hazardous materials incidents, including chemical types, DOT classifications, release information, and evacuation details. Appears when a HazMat incident type is selected.
High Angle Rescue: A rescue subtype involving technical rope operations at significant heights.
Horizontal Ventilation: A ventilation tactic involving the removal of smoke and heat through side openings.
Hospital Destination: Name of the hospital where a patient is transported.
I
Incident Actions Taken: Actions taken by fire department on the scene of the incident.
Incident Command: The management system established to coordinate emergency response, documented in the Actions and Tactics module.
Incident Displaced Number: Number of people displaced by the incident.
Incident Final Type: Disposition or final incident type as assessed on scene, which may differ from dispatch type.
Incident Internal ID: Department's internal unique identifier for the incident.
Incident NERIS ID: Unique identifier assigned to each incident in the NERIS system.
Incident People Present: Documentation of whether people were at the location during the incident.
Incident Point: Geographic coordinates marking the precise location of the incident.
Incident Special Modifier: Additional classification factors like mass casualty or federal disaster designation.
Incident Stage of Injury: Field in the Firefighter Casualties section recording at which stage of the incident the injury occurred (e.g., Initial Response, Fire Attack, Overhaul, Rehab).
Information (Tactic): A NERIS tactic category covering intelligence gathering and public information activities during an incident, including enforcing codes or laws, providing public information, and referring to the appropriate AHJ.
Illness: A medical incident subtype involving non-traumatic medical conditions.
J
Job Classification of Firefighter: Field in the Firefighter Casualties section classifying the firefighter's employment status at the time of the incident (e.g., Career, Volunteer, Paid-On-Call).
L
Law Enforcement Support: Incident type involving assistance provided to police agencies.
Limited/No Access: An outside/outdoor rescue subtype involving difficult-to-reach locations.
Location Use: How a structure or property was being utilized at the time of the incident, including whether it was occupied and used as intended.
Low Angle Rescue: A rescue subtype involving minimal slope or elevation.
M
Mass Casualty Incident: A special incident modifier indicating an emergency with multiple victims that overwhelms local resources.
Material Release Fixed Facility: A hazardous materials incident at a stationary location.
Material Release Transport: A hazardous materials incident involving transportation vehicles.
Mayday: Emergency declaration when a firefighter is in distress, documented in Firefighter Rescue module.
Medical Disposition: Transport outcome of a medical incident (e.g., transported, refused care).
Medical Module: The NERIS report section for linking patient ePCR records and capturing patient evaluation, status, and transport details. Appears when a medical incident type is selected.
Motor Vehicle Collision: A medical incident subtype involving traffic accidents.
Motor Vehicle Extrication: A transportation rescue subtype involving removal of entrapped victims from vehicles.
N
NEMSIS (National Emergency Medical Services Information System): The national database used to store EMS data, which can be linked to NERIS medical incidents.
NERIS (National Emergency Response Information System): Cloud-based platform developed by the USFA to collect comprehensive emergency response data, replacing NFIRS.
NERIS Unit ID: The unique identifier assigned by NERIS to a specific apparatus for national reporting and interoperability. Distinct from the CAD Unit ID (assigned by the dispatch system) and the Apparatus ID (assigned internally by the department). Populated automatically when the unit is registered with NERIS through the FireWorks Back-Office.
NFIRS (National Fire Incident Reporting System): Legacy fire incident reporting system being replaced by NERIS.
No Action: Tactical category documenting when no action was taken, with reasons such as cancelled or no incident found.
No Incident Found: A good intent subtype where responding units found no emergency situation.
Non-FD Aid: A subsection of the Mutual Aid section in the Response tab. Tracks non-fire-department support services active on scene, including social services, housing services, animal services, and law enforcement. This subsection is always available, regardless of the Aid Given/Received setting in Incident Info.
Non-Structure Search: A tactical category involving search operations in outdoor or non-building environments.
Narrative Impediment: Description of any obstacles that impacted incident operations.
Narrative Outcome: Description of the final disposition of the incident.
O
Occupancy Classification: Categorization of building or property use (e.g., Residential, Commercial, Industrial) used in NERIS location documentation.
Officer in Charge (OIC): The command officer responsible for the incident. Documented in the Authorization section of the NERIS report along with their role/position during the incident.
Outside Fire: A fire incident subtype involving outdoor combustion.
Outside Fire Acres Burned: Measurement of area affected by wildland fire.
Outside Fire Cause: Determination of causation for vegetation/outdoor fires.
Outside/Outdoor Rescue: A rescue incident type involving operations in exterior environments.
Overdose: A medical injury/trauma subtype involving excessive substance consumption.
P
Parcel: Characteristics of the property at which an incident occurred, including assessed value, year built, and building specifications.
Patient Assessment: An emergency medical care tactic involving evaluation of ill or injured persons.
Patient Care Report: Reference number for associated NEMSIS documentation.
Patient Evaluation: Field in the NERIS Medical tab documenting the level of assessment and care provided. Options include: Patient Evaluated and Care Provided, Patient Evaluated and Refused Care, Patient Evaluated — No Care Required, Patient Refused Evaluation/Care, Patient Support Services Provided, and Patient Dead on Arrival.
Patient Status: Field in the NERIS Medical tab recording the patient's condition change following treatment. Options: Improved, Unchanged, Worse.
Pay Hours: In the Payroll tab, the actual compensable hours for the incident. May differ from Calculated Hours when departmental payroll policy specifies a minimum or adjusted compensation period.
Payroll Type: In the Payroll tab, the compensation category applicable to the responder for this incident (e.g., Regular, Overtime, Volunteer, Callback). Corresponds to the pay codes configured for the incident type in the department's back-office settings.
Person in Distress: A citizen assist subtype involving civilians needing emergency assistance.
Personnel Contamination Reduction (Tactic): A NERIS tactic category covering responder decontamination activities, including on-scene contamination reduction, clean cab transport, and PPE washing post-incident.
Photovoltaic System: Solar panel technology that may be involved in incidents and is specifically tracked in the Emerging Hazards module.
Physical State (HazMat): Field in the HazMat tab recording the physical form of the released material at the time of the incident (e.g., Gas, Liquid, Solid).
PIO Assigned: A command and control tactic involving public information officer deployment.
Points (Payroll): Optional field in the Payroll tab for recording merit or special operation points awarded to a responder, if applicable under departmental policy.
Positive Pressure: A ventilation tactic using mechanical fans to create airflow.
Power Line Down: A hazard non-chemical subtype involving electrical infrastructure failure.
Pre Content Value / Content Loss: Fields in the Fire tab's Dollar Value section. Pre Content Value is the estimated value of the structure's contents before the incident. Content Loss is the estimated dollar value of content damage caused by the incident.
Pre Property Value / Property Loss: Fields in the Fire tab's Dollar Value section. Pre Property Value is the estimated value of the structure before the incident. Property Loss is the estimated dollar value of structural damage caused by the incident. All entries in USD.
Primary Nature of Fire: Field in the Fire tab classifying the fire as either an Outside Fire or a Structure Fire. This selection affects which additional fire documentation fields appear.
Primary Search: Initial rapid search for victims conducted early in an incident.
PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point): The dispatch center that receives the initial emergency call. In the Response tab Times section, three PSAP fields capture when the call arrived at the PSAP, when it was answered, and when processing began.
R
Radioactive Release/Incident: A hazardous materials subtype involving radioactive material.
Re-ignition: Field in the Emerging Hazards tab indicating whether a battery or ESS fire reignited after initial extinguishment (Yes/No).
Release Environment: Field in the HazMat tab recording where a chemical was released: Air, Water, or Ground.
Rescue Animal: Total number of animals rescued during an incident.
Rescue Module: A specialized NERIS data collection component that appears for incidents involving trapped or endangered persons.
Rescue Primary Mode: Method used for primary rescue approach.
Rescue Type: Classification of rescue operation (e.g., firefighter rescued, firefighter-assisted evacuation).
Response Delays: Field in the Response tab's Apparatus Info section documenting factors that caused delays in a unit's response (e.g., traffic, equipment issues, weather).
Response Type: In the Response tab, the classification of a unit's or responder's response mode for the incident — typically Emergency or Non-Emergency. Affects Payroll eligibility and NERIS reporting.
Risk Reduction: Module documenting the presence and performance of safety systems including alarms and automatic suppression.
RIT Activated: Rapid Intervention Team deployment following a Mayday declaration.
RMS (Records Management System): Software used by fire departments to document and store incident information.
Room and Contents: A structure fire subtype limited to contents within a room without structural involvement.
S
Salvage and Overhaul: A tactical category involving property conservation and fire extension prevention.
Search Structure: A tactical category involving interior building search protocols.
Smoke Alarm: Detection device for smoke, tracked in Risk Reduction module.
Smoke Alarm Operation: Whether smoke alarm operated as intended during incident.
Source/Target (Emerging Hazards): Field in the Emerging Hazards tab indicating whether the battery or energy storage system was the source of ignition (caused the fire) or the target (was impacted by the fire from another source).
SpCO (Carboxyhemoglobin Saturation): Measurement of carbon monoxide binding to haemoglobin in a responder's blood, expressed as a percentage. Recorded in the REHAB Check Details section. Elevated SpCO indicates CO exposure and may require medical evaluation.
SpO2 (Oxygen Saturation): Measurement of oxygen binding to haemoglobin in a responder's blood, expressed as a percentage. Recorded in the REHAB Check Details section.
Special Incident Modifier: Additional classification applied to incidents with unique characteristics such as Mass Casualty, Active Assailant, or Declared Disaster.
Staging Time: Timestamp in the Response tab's Apparatus Info section recording when a unit is staged — positioned near the incident and awaiting further instructions before proceeding to scene.
State Declared Disaster: A special incident modifier indicating a state-recognized disaster.
Structure Arrival Conditions: Fire conditions observed upon initial arrival at structure fires.
Structure Damage: Rating of damage extent to the fire building.
Structure Fire Cause: Determination of fire origin and cause for building fires.
Structure Floor of Origin: Story above or below ground where fire originated.
Structure/Indoor Rescue: A rescue incident type involving operations within buildings.
Suppression: Fire control and extinguishment methodologies, documented as actions/tactics.
Suppression Approach (Emerging Hazards): Field in the Emerging Hazards tab recording the method used to extinguish a battery or ESS fire (e.g., water submersion, dry chemical, allow to burn out).
Swift Water/River/Ocean: A water rescue subtype involving moving water environments.
T
Tactic Timestamps: Chronological documentation of key operational benchmarks during an incident, such as water on fire, primary search complete, etc.
Time Command Established: Timestamp when incident command system was implemented.
Time Dispatch: Timestamp when a unit was dispatched to the incident.
Time Fire Under Control: Timestamp when fire was contained but not yet extinguished.
Time On Scene: Timestamp when a unit arrived at the incident location.
Time Primary Search Complete: Timestamp when primary search operations finished.
Time Water on Fire: Timestamp when water was first applied to fire.
Train/Rail Collision/Derailment: A transportation rescue subtype involving railroad incidents.
Transportation Fire: A fire incident type involving vehicles, aircraft, or other transport methods.
Transportation/Land Rescue: A rescue incident type involving land-based transportation accidents.
Transported (Medical): Field in the NERIS Medical tab indicating the transport outcome for the patient. Options include: Transport by EMS Unit, Transport by Other Agency, Patient Refused Transport, Non-Patient Transport, and No Transport.
Type of Investigation: Field in the Fire tab indicating who will conduct the fire investigation, if required. Options include On-Scene Operational Resources, Formal Arson/Fire Investigator, Law Enforcement, State Fire Marshal, Insurance, Outside Fire Agency, and None.
U
Unit Response: Documentation of specific apparatus and personnel responding to an incident, including dispatch times and operational periods.
Unit Response Mode: Response classification (emergency/non-emergency).
Unit Staffing: Number of personnel assigned to a responding unit.
Urban Conflagration: A special incident modifier indicating a major fire affecting multiple city blocks.
USAR/K9: A non-structure search tactic involving Urban Search and Rescue teams with canines.
USFA (U.S. Fire Administration): Federal agency responsible for NERIS implementation nationwide.
Utility Infrastructure Fire: An outside fire subtype involving utility services equipment.
V
Vegetation/Grass Fire: An outside fire subtype involving natural growth.
Vehicle Fire: A transportation fire subtype involving automobiles, trucks, or buses.
Ventilation: A tactical category involving smoke and heat removal operations.
Vertical Ventilation: A ventilation tactic involving the removal of smoke and heat through roof openings.
Violence Against Responder: A special incident modifier indicating responder assault.
W
Water Rescue: A rescue incident type involving operations in aquatic environments.
Water Supply (Fire): Field in the Fire tab recording the source and delivery method of water used for suppression (e.g., Hydrant, Tank Water, Draft from Static Source, Water Tender/Shuttle).
Watercraft in Distress: A water rescue subtype involving boats or vessels.
Weather: Environmental conditions at the time of an incident, including temperature, wind conditions, and precipitation.
Wildfire - Urban Interface: An outside fire subtype involving wildland fires threatening developed areas.
Wildfire - Wildland: An outside fire subtype involving large non-urban vegetation fires.
Window Search: A search structure tactic involving assessment via exterior openings.
View this glossary in the EPR FireWorks Support Knowledge Base