Understanding the Entity Element in NERIS: A Sneak Peek into Fire Department Demographics

As we continue our journey towards integrating the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) for our customers, we’re excited to share updates and insights into our progress. In our last blog, we highlighted our initial steps and the collaborative efforts stemming from the recent NERIS Industry Roundtable. Today, we dive deeper into a foundational component of NERIS – the Entity element.

The Entity Element: What Is It?

The Entity element is the bedrock of NERIS, designed to capture comprehensive demographic information about fire departments across the United States. This element is crucial for providing a clear and accurate picture of fire services nationwide, something that has been a longstanding challenge for the fire community.

What Information Does the Entity Element Capture?

In the Entity element, fire departments will input a variety of demographic details, including:

• Department Information: The basic identifiers, such as the department name, address, and unique NERIS Entity ID.
• Stations and Apparatus: Detailed information about the number and location of stations, and the types and numbers of apparatus in service.
• Personnel: Data on staffing, including the number of full-time, part-time, and volunteer firefighters.
• Service Area: Geographic details covering the size and scope of the area served by the department.

This structured and standardized data collection will enable more effective resource allocation, policy-making, and strategic planning at both local and national levels.

The NERIS Entity ID: A Unique Identifier

A key component of the Entity element is the NERIS Entity ID, a unique 10-digit alphanumeric identifier assigned to each fire department. Here’s how it’s structured:

• First Two Characters: Letters describing the entity type (e.g., “FD” for Fire Department, “FM” for Fire Marshal).
• Middle Five Digits: The FIPS code for the headquarters location of the entity, providing a geographic identifier.
• Last Three Digits: Randomly generated numbers ensuring the uniqueness of the ID, even among entities in the same location.

The introduction of these standardized IDs will help prevent duplication and confusion, ensuring more accurate data collection and easier identification of entities on a national scale.

Collecting Data Differently: A New Approach

NERIS introduces a more structured and continuous approach to data collection and maintenance. Fire departments will be responsible for maintaining their entity data, ensuring it remains current and accurate. This process will be facilitated through an API, allowing for real-time updates whenever there are changes in personnel, stations, or apparatus.

This proactive approach ensures that the demographic data of fire departments is always up to date, aiding in effective decision-making and resource allocation. By maintaining a consistent and accurate database, NERIS aims to provide a more reliable foundation for analyzing and improving fire services nationwide.

Why Is This Important?

Historically, there has been a significant gap in accurate, comprehensive data on fire departments in the U.S. The Entity element in NERIS aims to bridge this gap by providing a unified platform for data entry and management. With this system, stakeholders can:

• Accurately Track Resources: Knowing how many firefighters, vehicles, and stations are available nationwide helps in efficient resource distribution.
• Improve Strategic Planning: Data-driven insights allow for better planning and preparedness for emergencies.
• Maintain Up-to-Date Information: Having a standardized process ensures that the demographic data of fire departments are always current, aiding in effective decision-making and resource allocation.

Our Progress

We’ve been diligently working on this component and laying the groundwork for seamless integration. Our team is in communication with the NERIS development team to ensure that our implementation aligns with their standards. We’re also anticipating access to the beta environment soon, which will further refine our approach.

What’s Next?

We will continue to share updates and insights as we progress through the integration of NERIS. Stay tuned as we explore more about the features and benefits of NERIS, and how it will revolutionize fire department data management.

For more information on the Entity element and NERIS datasets, check out their website.

We are excited about the strides we’re making and look forward to sharing more updates in our next blog. Your feedback and questions are always welcome as we navigate this transformative journey together.

Get in touch with our experts to learn more about how to prepare for NERIS.