Navigating NERIS: How Fire Agencies Can Prepare Now

The fire service industry stands at a critical inflection point. With the National Emergency Reporting Information System (NERIS) set to replace the  NFIRS data standard, fire departments nationwide face a significant operational transformation. This transition represents more than just a software update—it's a fundamental shift in how emergency incident data is collected, processed, and utilized.  
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The NERIS Challenge: What Fire Agencies Need to Know

The transition from NFIRS to NERIS brings substantial changes to fire incident reporting. Unlike the legacy NFIRS system, NERIS introduces modernized data collection standards designed for real-time reporting and seamless interoperability with other emergency management systems. The new form will enable more actionable analytics and better support for data-driven decision-making across public safety agencies.

However, this transition comes with considerable challenges. According to the First Due NERIS 2025 Readiness Report, only 5% of surveyed fire agencies feel "very prepared" for the upcoming change, with approximately 45% reporting they have not yet developed a formal transition plan. This preparation gap creates significant risk for departments that delay their planning process.
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Vendor Compatibility: A Critical Decision Point

The readiness report revealed a concerning trend: many legacy software vendors are not planning to support the NERIS transition. This has created a significant market shift, with 37% of agencies actively seeking new vendors for their NERIS implementation, while another 29% remain undecided about whether their current systems will meet future needs.

Fire chiefs identified several pressing concerns regarding vendor compatibility:

• System Integration (28%): Ensuring new reporting standards work seamlessly with existing technologies remains a critical concern for many agencies.

• Vendor Support (26%): Departments are increasingly looking to their software providers for guidance through this transition.

• Data Migration: Chiefs worry about maintaining access to historical reporting data during and after the transition.

These findings highlight the importance of selecting a vendor that has fully committed to NERIS compatibility. Unfortunately, not all legacy vendors have made this commitment, leaving their customers uncertain about future compliance.
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Why First Due Can Be Trusted for Your NERIS Transition

While some legacy vendors have chosen not to adapt their systems for NERIS compliance, First Due stands apart with our complete commitment to the new standard. Here's why fire agencies nationwide are turning to First Due for their NERIS needs:

Complete NERIS Compliance: Unlike legacy vendors who may be sunsetting their systems, First Due has fully embraced the NERIS standard, working directly with the USFA to ensure complete compliance.

Seamless Transition Process: Switching to the NERIS form becomes as easy as toggling a setting within the First Due platform.  

Historical Data Preservation: All your historical NFIRS incident reports remain accessible, with extensive field mapping between NFIRS and NERIS to maintain reporting continuity.

Cloud-Based Efficiency: Our platform ensures virtually no system downtime during migration, allowing uninterrupted operations.
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The First Due Difference: A Trusted Partner

As a trusted partner to thousands of fire agencies across all 50 states, First Due delivers more than just NERIS compliance—we provide a holistic platform that unifies fire operations, prevention, and administration into a single, seamless system.

Our comprehensive solution addresses the primary concerns identified in the readiness report:

• Implementation Support: First Due manages the entire registration process with NERIS, including unit and station registration.

• Training Resources: Comprehensive knowledge base articles, video tutorials, and live webinars begin rolling out in May 2025.

• Vendor Reliability: Unlike legacy vendors who may abandon NERIS support, First Due is fully committed to the new standard, protecting your agency's long-term compliance.
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Take Action Now

With the NERIS deadline approaching, now is the time to secure your agency's successful transition. By partnering with First Due, you'll join the thousands of departments nationwide who are confidently prepared for this industry-wide change.