Understanding NERIS IDs

The transition from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) brings many changes, one of the most fundamental being how fire departments and their resources are identified.

While NFIRS used a Fire Department Identification Number (FDID) that was unique only within a state, NERIS introduces a nationally unique identifier for every entity. This ensures that data can be aggregated and analyzed on a national scale without confusion or duplication.

Let’s break down the structure of these new NERIS IDs.

Fire Department Identifier (NERIS Entity ID)

The core identifier for a fire department in NERIS is a 10-digit alphanumeric code. This ID is assigned through a verification process that involves approval from the State Fire Marshal or equivalent state authority.

The structure is as follows:

FD + SSCCC + UUU

• Entity Type (FD): The ID begins with two letters that describe the type of entity. For a fire department, this is FD. Other examples might include FM for a Fire Marshal’s office.
• FIPS Code (SSCCC): The next five digits represent the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code for the geographic location of the department’s headquarters. This code can be further broken down:
  • SS: A 2-digit state code.
  • CCC: A 3-digit county code within that state.
• Unique Identifier (UUU): The final three digits are randomly generated to guarantee that the ID is unique across the entire country. This is crucial for distinguishing between multiple departments that might be headquartered in the same county.

For example, a fire department in Boulder County, Colorado (State FIPS 08, County FIPS 013) might have a NERIS ID that looks like this: FD08013123.

"If you look at your NERIS ID FD08013123 your county fire departments also start FD08013___."

Adam Jack, Responserack

Station Identifiers

Within a fire department’s entity in NERIS, individual stations are also given unique identifiers. Unlike the department ID, the station ID is simpler.

• Station ID: This is a 3-digit numeric identifier that the department assigns to each of its stations (e.g., 001, 002, 003). This ID is unique within that fire department.

When combined with the department’s ID, it creates a nationally unique identifier for the station. For example: FD08013123S001.

Unit Identifiers

Similarly, each apparatus or unit within a station is assigned an identifier.

• Unit ID: This identifier is managed by the department within the NERIS platform. It often corresponds to the unit’s designation in the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system (e.g., E12, BC1).

A full unit NERIS ID combines the department, station, and unit information to create a completely unique identifier for that specific resource, such as FD24027077S000U001.

Why Its Interesting:

This standardized and hierarchical identification system is a cornerstone of NERIS. By ensuring every department, station, and unit has a nationally unique identifier, NERIS creates a robust framework for accurate data collection, resource tracking, and large-scale analysis that was not possible with the old state-based FDID system.

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