The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office announced recently that fire departments across the state are beginning the transition to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS)—a secure, cloud-based platform built to modernize how emergency incidents are reported and analyzed.
Departments across the country are onboarding to NERIS as part of a phased national rollout led by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), and the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes.
NERIS is replacing the 40-year-old National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), to provide local agencies with timely data tools, location-based analytics, and flexible options for incident reporting—at no cost to departments.
“Modernizing emergency data collection is a critical step toward strengthening public safety,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow. “By adopting NERIS, we are giving our departments better tools to protect our communities, manage resources effectively, and make informed decisions backed by current data. This program will also help to enhance CRR programs across the state with real-time data allowing departments to analyze trends in a more efficient and effective way through data dashboards.”
Key features of NERIS include:
- Zero-cost access for all public fire and EMS agencies
- Local data ownership, giving departments full control of their records
- GIS-based reporting for location-specific insights and planning
- Actionable dashboards for operational awareness and performance tracking
- Streamlined onboarding with help desk support and training tools
Departments may begin the onboarding process today and will be contacted directly by email within the next few weeks to start the onboarding process. If your department does not receive an email, you can start the process by visiting the NERIS website. The process includes account setup, administrator access, and records management system (RMS) integration, if applicable.
“NERIS is purpose-built for today’s fire service,” said Steve Kerber, Executive Director of FSRI. “It’s based on research and feedback from the field, and it delivers actionable information that improves emergency response and supports long-term planning and resourcing at the local, state, and national levels.”
The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office encourages all departments to complete onboarding as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition. The current national data platform, NFIRS, will be formally decommissioned on January 1, 2026. For additional questions or technical support, departments can contact the NERIS Help Desk or Lindsey Padget at the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office 217-670-4300 or by email Lindsey.A.Padget@illinois.gov.
About NERIS – The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is the new all-hazards reporting platform for U.S. fire and emergency services. Developed through a federal public-private partnership with input from departments nationwide, NERIS delivers modern tools to streamline reporting, improve data quality, and support community risk reduction. By tracking operational trends, resource use, and incident outcomes, NERIS advances data-informed approaches to emergency response and resource allocation.
About FSRI – The Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, advances fire safety knowledge to address the world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. As part of UL Research Institutes, we are committed to sharing our fire safety insights with everyone to advance UL’s public safety mission of providing safe liv