GlossaryFire and EMS reporting
NFIRS incident type
An NFIRS incident type classifies events in a historical reporting system. Learn how it differs from dispatch labels, actions, and NERIS reporting.
An NFIRS incident type is a classification describing the situation found in a record created under the National Fire Incident Reporting System. In NFIRS 5.0 it uses a three-digit code. The code belongs to that historical reporting framework and should be read with the applicable manual, rather than treated as a universal dispatch label.
Classification after the initial report
A dispatcher may send resources based on what a caller reports, while responding personnel record a different situation after examining the scene. The NFIRS incident type concerns the recorded incident classification; an initial call description can answer a different question.
The 2015 NFIRS reference guide explains the incident-type field and its categories. Its code groups cover much more than actual fires, including rescue and emergency medical service activity, hazardous conditions, service calls, and false alarms. USFA NFIRS reference guide, Basic Module section C.
Example
Hypothetical example: Personnel are dispatched to an automatic alarm. They investigate and find an alarm-system problem without a fire. The initial dispatch label and the recorded NFIRS incident type can therefore differ.
A chart using dispatch labels measures how events were initially described or assigned. A chart using NFIRS incident types measures the selected reported classifications. Calling both charts “fires” would erase that distinction and could overstate actual fire events.
Common confusion
An incident type is different from an action taken. A crew can investigate, provide assistance, or perform other actions during an event; those actions do not replace the event's classification. It is also different from the property's use, such as residential or commercial.
Code numbers are labels, not quantities. Subtracting one code from another does not measure a difference in severity. A higher number does not automatically mean a more dangerous event or a larger response.
Use the historical system honestly
USFA states that 2026 incident reporting is in the National Emergency Response Information System, or NERIS, rather than NFIRS. Historical NFIRS codes remain relevant for older files and longitudinal research. They should not be presented as the current national submission instructions for 2026 incidents. USFA NFIRS transition dates.
Verify category mappings before combining old and new reports. Similar wording across systems does not establish identical inclusion rules. A report should identify the source system, code version, any regrouping, and breaks in the series. Preserve original codes when creating broader reader-facing categories.