NERIS Incident Types

NERIS Incident Types

Incident Types

Overview 

Incident classification is a critical component of NERIS reporting and determines which modules and fields will be displayed. NERIS allows the selection of up to three incident categories from the incident types and categories below.


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Alert
Disclaimer
NERIS is currently under development by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). This guide reflects the system as implemented in EPR FireWorks. Functionality may evolve as NERIS continues development toward full national implementation by January 2026.


Defining the Incident Type
1. Click the desired incident type from the Subtypes. The incident types are listed in the Incident Type table below.

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2.   A sidebar with subtypes will open on the right. Select the subtype that best describes the incident.
      The subcategories are listed in the Category and Subtypes tables below according to incident types.
Notes
Note: Only one subcategory can be selected per incident type.

3. sing the Primary column to the left of the Incident Type table, mark the primary incident type. The incident type you mark will jump to the top of the table.

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4. Answer the subsequent yes/no questions:
  1. Did any casualties (injuries or death) and/or rescues occur to firefighters during this incident?
  1. Did any casualties (injuries or death) and/or rescues occur to non-firefighters during this incident?
  1. Did the incident involve any emerging hazards? (Electric/Battery/Power Generation/CSST)?
Notes
Note:
  1. If the answer to questions (a) and (b) was Yes, complete the Casualties & Rescues tab (will open to the right).
  1. If the answer to question (c) is Yes, complete the Emerging Hazards tab (will open on the right).

5. Add incident modifiers as needed to provide additional context or details from the following list:
  1. Active Assailant
  2. Mass Casualty Incident
  3. Federal Declared Disaster
  4. State Declared Disaster
  5. Urban Conflagration
  6. Violence Against Responder
  7. County or Local Declared Disaster
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6. When done, proceed to complete Actions & Tactics.

Incident Types

Fire

All incidents involving combustion or burning materials

Law Enforcement Support

Assistance provided to law enforcement agencies

No Emergency

False alarms, canceled calls, good intent calls

Hazmat

Hazardous materials incidents and investigations

Rescue

Incidents involving trapped or endangered persons

Medical

Incidents requiring emergency medical services

Public Service

Non-emergency assistance to the public




Incident Categories and Subtypes

Certain incident types require additional subtype specification. After selecting an incident type from the

Fire

Subcategory

Description

Subtypes

Outside Fire

Fires occurring outdoors (trash, vegetation, wildland)

  • Construction Waste

  • Other Outside Fire

  • Outside Tank Fire

  • Trash / Rubbish Fire

  • Vegetation / Grass Fire

  • Wildfire - Wildland

  • Wildfire - Urban Interface

  • Utility Infrastructure Fire

  • Dumpster / Other Outdoor Container Fire

Special Fire

Explosions, ESS fires, infrastructure fires

  • ESS Fire

  • Explosion

  • Infrastructure Fire (Tunnel, Bridge)

Structure Fire

Building fires, both confined and extended

  • Structural Involvement

  • Room and Contents Fire

  • Confined Cooking / Appliance Fire

  • Chimney Fire

Transportation Fire

Vehicle, aircraft, boat, or train fires

  • Aircraft Emergency

  • Vehicle Fire - Passenger

  • Vehicle Fire - Commercial

  • Vehicle Fire - RV

  • Vehicle Fire - Food Truck

  • Boat / Personal Watercraft / Barge Fire

  • Powered Mobility Device Fire

  • Train / Rail Fire


Hazardous Situation (HazSit/HazMat)

Subcategory

Description

Subtypes

Hazard Non-Chemical

Bomb threats, power lines, electrical hazards

  • Bomb Threat / Bomb Response / Suspicious Package

  • Electrical Power Line Down / Arching / Malfunction

  • Electrical Hazard / Short Circuit

Hazardous Materials

Chemical spills, gas leaks, radiological incidents

  • Fuel Spill / Fuel Odor

  • Gas Leak / Gas Odor

  • Carbon Monoxide Release

  • Biological Release / Incident

  • Radioactive Release / Incident

  • Hazardous Material Release (Chemical from Transportation)

  • Hazardous Material Release (Chemical from Fixed Facility)

Investigation

Smoke or odor investigations

  • Smoke Investigation

  • Odor

Overpressure

Increase in pressure above normal atmospheric pressure

  • Rupture Without Fire

  • No Rupture

Medical

Subcategory

Description

Subtypes

Illness

Non-traumatic medical conditions (cardiac, respiratory, stroke)

  • Abdominal Pain / Problems

  • Back Pain (Non-Trauma)

  • Breathing Problems

  • Cardiac Arrest

  • Chest Pain (Non-Trauma)

  • Convulsions / Seizures

  • Diabetic Problems

  • Headache

  • Heart Problems

  • Pandemic / Epidemic / Outbreak

  • Pregnancy / Childbirth

  • Psychological Behavior Issues

  • Sick Case

  • Stroke / CVA

  • Unconscious Victim

  • Well Person Check

  • Unknown Problem

  • Nausea / Vomiting

  • Altered Mental Status

  • No Appropriate Choice

  • Allergic Reaction / Stings

  • Overdose / Poisoning

Injury/Trauma

Physical injuries from accidents, violence, or environmental causes

  • Animal Bites

  • Assault

  • Burns / Explosion

  • Carbon Monoxide / Other Inhalation Injury

  • Choking

  • Drowning / Diving / SCUBA Accident

  • Fall

  • Heat / Cold Exposure

  • Motor Vehicle Collision

  • Industrial Accident / Inaccessible Incident / Other Entrapment (Non-Vehicle)

  • Gunshot Wound

  • Hemorrhage / Laceration

  • Stab / Penetrating Trauma

  • Other Traumatic Injury

  • Electrocution

  • Eye Trauma

Other

Medical alarms, standby requests, transfers, public health events

  • Healthcare Professional Admission

  • Medical Alarm

  • Standby Request

  • Transfer / Interfacility

  • Airmedical Transport

  • Intercept Other Unit

  • Community Public Health

No Emergency

Subcategory

Description

Subtypes

Cancelled

Calls cancelled en route or on-scene

Cancelled

False Alarm

Intentional, malfunction, or accidental alarms

  • Intentional False Alarm

  • Malfunctioning Alarm

  • Accidental Alarm

  • Other False Call

  • Bomb Scare

Good Intent

Calls with good intentions but no emergency found

  • No Incident Found Upon Arrival / Location Error

  • Controlled Burning (Authorized)

  • Smoke From Nonhostile Source (Smoke Scare)

  • Investigate Hazardous Release (Nothing Found)



Public Service

Subcategory

Description

Subtypes

Alarms (Non-Medical)

Fire, gas, or CO alarm activations

  • Fire / Smoke Alarm

  • Gas Alarm

  • CO Alarm

  • Other Alarm

Citizen Assist

Non-emergency assistance to civilians

Disaster/Weather

Weather-related responses, damage assessment

Other

Move-up, standby, and other miscellaneous services

Rescue

Subcategory

Description

Outside/Outdoor

Rescues in outdoor environments (steep angle, confined space)

Structure/Indoor

Building collapse, elevator/escalator rescues

Transportation (Land)

Vehicle extrication, train/aviation incidents

Water

Water rescues in standing or swift water

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