BISMARCK, N.D. – A major shift is underway in how North Dakota’s fire departments report and analyze emergency data. The State Fire Marshal’s Office announced today that departments statewide are beginning the transition to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) — a secure, cloud-based platform designed to modernize emergency incident reporting and improve data-driven decision making.
The move to NERIS marks the first major upgrade to the nation’s fire data system in more than four decades, replacing the aging National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). 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) at UL Research Institutes, NERIS is part of a national rollout giving local departments real-time access to tools, analytics, and insights — all at no cost.
“For the fire departments of North Dakota this is a once in a generation opportunity to make reporting simpler, update our technology, and improve our fire data from local jurisdictions to state-wide.” Said Jon Godfread, ND Insurance Commissioner.
“Modernizing emergency data collection is a critical step toward strengthening public safety,” said Doug Nelson, ND State Fire Marshal. “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.”
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 can begin the onboarding process today 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 North Dakota 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.
Need help getting started? Contact the NERIS Help Desk or reach out to the North Dakota State Fire Marshal’s Office at (701) 328-5555 or infofm@nd.gov. You can also connect directly with Dustin Andres, NERIS Communications Lead (Dustin.Andres@ul.org), or Baylie Scott, NERIS Research Scientist (Baylie.Scott@ul.org), for additional guidance.