RESPONSERACK VOL FIRE DEPT SOFTWARE Just a brief update today. Some insights into these NERIS types ... Apparatus / Units and Locations One of the benefits of the reworking of NFIRS to NERIS is filling some of the bigger gaps, many of which have just grown over time. This is the case for both locations and apparatus/unit types. NERIS Locations - Place Details NFIRS helped locate a place (e.g. an address or intersection), but NERIS helps locate a place within a place (e.g. Section 30, Row 12,...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
RESPONSERACK VOL FIRE DEPT SOFTWARE NERIS builds upon NFIRS: A firefighter recently joked that NFIRS stood for “Not Functional In Real Situations”, and certainly it does have limitations when it comes to describing incidents. NERIS allows more flexibility in reporting the type of incident, supports capturing important new data, and brings mapping capabilities (like GIS.) Learn more below ... Keep your questions on NERIS coming, and I'll answer all that I can — Adam. NERIS Incident Types...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Software that we need & what we don’t need … Volunteer Fire Departments have had to accept career department leftover software for way too long. We were forced to struggle with software designed for people paid to work on reports full-time, and that isn’t us. We are volunteers wearing many hats, doing many jobs, and serving our community as best we can. Our systems need to ease our work, not drag us down. Of the things we need, we need software that: Does what we need for department...
3 months ago • 1 min read
RESPONSERACK VOL FIRE DEPT SOFTWARE NFIRS to NERIS in 2025 For all its warts, NFIRS is what we know. Moving to NERIS might be good, it might be tough, it might be both. Together let's make this painless, that would be crushing it! Send me your NERIS questions and I'll answer them, or work to get answers. What is your NERIS identifier? Some of you have asked about your NERIS identifiers. NERIS has been pre-populated with a number of fire departments, and I've posted them here for browsing by...
3 months ago • 2 min read
RESPONSERACK VOL FIRE DEPT SOFTWARE NERIS from 2023 and into 2025 NFIRS might've felt too entrenched and monolithic to be replaced, but it is being replaced. This is happening folks! NERIS is coming, its happening ... NERIS was first announced in May 2023, was developed over 2023 & 2024, and version 1 was released in November 2024. NERIS will roll out replacing NFIRS in 2025. Most fire department will start working with NERIS in the later part of 2025, so don't worry, there is time for your...
4 months ago • 2 min read
RESPONSERACK VOL FIRE DEPT SOFTWARE FYI: Today's email is primarily for Volunteer Fire Departments ... Prepare your VFD for 2025 As we move towards the end of 2024, it is time to make 2025 better for your fire department, for your volunteer firefighters, and for your community. Recruit an Administrator. Chiefs should be mentoring & growing people and department capabilities & culture, not pushing paper. Migrate to Responserack for 2025, and use 2024 to ease into this change. Prepare for the...
5 months ago • 2 min read
RESPONSERACK VOL FIRE DEPT SOFTWARE NERIS Released (Nov 4th 2024) NERIS (the National Emergency Response Information System, which is to replace NFIRS) was released today. Release of the specification means it is stable for up to a year, and now partners (such as Responserack) can build upon a stable specification. NERIS Specification 1.0.1, Nov 4th 2025 NERIS will roll out to more and more fire departments in early / mid 2025, and NFIRS will shut down at the start of 2026. We have a year to...
5 months ago • 1 min read
RESPONSERACK VOL FIRE DEPT SOFTWARE NERIS Tactical Timestamps As we continue to explore the differences between NFIRS and NERIS ... Time factors such as the benefits of quick response, and the impacts of delayed arrival and/or delayed operations, are established by comparing operational times to outcomes, including losses. NERIS is directly addressing the time factor of fires & fire operations by collecting timestamps that NFIRS did not. These tactical timestamps are the precise times when...
5 months ago • 1 min read
RESPONSERACK VOL FIRE DEPT SOFTWARE NERIS working on release Version 1 The NERIS (National Emergency Reporting Information System) standard is closing in on releasing its first specification in November 2024. Unlike NFIRS, NERIS is design to be extended as needed, but already there has been a modernization of its focus. Checkout the specification, and see what you think. Some of the important new points of data collection are: Fire Scene Times (e.g. 360 complete, water on fire, and more.)...
6 months ago • 1 min read