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National Fire Incident Reporting System: Program Management R0491

Curriculum: Planning & Information Management
Training Specialist

Dave Donohue
301-447-1094

Delivery type
6-day on-campus
Continuing education units
4.5
ACE recommendation
In the upper division baccalaureate/associate degree category, three semester hours in data analytics, information management, or public safety administration.

This six-day course is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of individuals responsible for the management of the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and/or multiple fire/EMS databases in their organization, and/or for those responsible for the training of field-level data collection and reporting staffs. This course provides information about the system’s capabilities, data collection and analysis, and available reporting features. Focus is on the higher level knowledge, skills and abilities required to collect, compile and analyze NFIRS data.

Attendees will use data to develop decision packages used as the basis for Standards of Cover, develop and evaluate department programs, and identify and compare local trends in emergency response, delivery, and community risk reduction. The NFA's computer lab is used extensively for this course. Class activities require knowledge of NFIRS coding and familiarity with Microsoft Excel sufficient to navigate the toolbars.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Generate reports describing their community’s fire problem and create reports that are of interest to their jurisdiction.
  • Ensure the quality of the NFIRS process for their jurisdiction.
  • Construct maps which identify incidents and resources.
  • Explain the impact of external factors on their organization.
  • Utilize incident data to analyze fire service problems.
  • Utilize NFIRS data to describe fire service problems and to support organizational goals and programs.
  • Develop action plans based on the community’s fire problem.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to take the self-study course, Q0880 - Management Tools for Fire and Emergency Services Leaders available through NFA Online before attending this course.

Note: Participants are required to contact their NFIRS state program manager four weeks prior to the start of class to obtain permission for data access for use during the training. Additionally, participants will need to complete a pre-course skills evaluation, data collection activities, and recommended readings that are found in the pre-course information sent to accepted students.

Student pre-course materials and course syllabus:

https://nfa.usfa.fema.gov/ax/pcm/pcm_r0491.pdf PDF 266KB
Welcome Letter, BYOD Instructions, Pre-course Assignment
https://nfa.usfa.fema.gov/ax/syll/syllabus_r0491.pdf PDF 156KB
Course Syllabus

Selection criteria

Applicants must complete the course prerequisites prior to applying and include proof of completion with the application. Applications that do not include proof of prerequisite completion will NOT be considered.

This course is for a broad audience of fire department NFIRS/EMS program managers/developers and administrative analysts and staff responsible for NFIRS multisource data collection/analysis, and for the training of field-level data collection and reporting staffs.

Special consideration is available for groups of students from the same organization attending the same session. All applications must be submitted at the same time.

Priority admission will be given to individuals designated as a State, U.S Territory, or Tribal Nation NFIRS Program Manager.

Prerequisites

1. Incident Command System (ICS)-100-level and ICS-200-level training. Preferred courses are Q0462 and Q0463, available through NFA Online.  Chief’s signature attests that the applicant has completed this required training.

2. Applicant must have attended and successfully completed one of the following or an equivalent:

  • The NFA’s two-day “Introduction to NFIRS 5.0” (F/W0497) course.
  • A state or regionally sponsored two-day “Introduction to NFIRS” course.
  • The NFA’s online “National Fire Incident Reporting System 5.0 Self-Study” (Q0494) course available through NFA Online. Chief's signature attests that the applicant has completed this required training. 

Participants found to not have completed course prerequisites may be removed from class.

Post-course requirements

None

Upcoming offerings

Dates Availability Location Contact(s) CCP Train-the-Trainer?
January 16 - 21, 2022 Application period closed Emmitsburg, Maryland
March 6 - 11, 2022 Application period closed Emmitsburg, Maryland
July 10 - 15, 2022 Apply on 10/15/2021 - 12/15/2021 Emmitsburg, Maryland
U.S. Fire Administration
U.S. Fire Administration
U.S. Fire Administration
16825 S. Seton Ave.
Emmitsburg, MD 21727 USA
800-238-3358

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