What is PennFIRS?
PennFIRS is the Pennsylvania Fire Incident Reporting System and is managed by OSFC. Fire departments are required to report into PennFIRS to meet eligibility requirements for certain Commonwealth grants. Pennsylvania uses this data to assess state and local needs regarding fire and life safety, community risk reduction, recruitment and retention, and GIS mapping to assist fire departments in their region.
OSFC takes the data submitted to PennFIRS and transmits it to the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA) database to help maintain national-level reporting and analytics. If a fire department reports into PennFIRS, there is no additional requirement to report into the national database (NERIS/NFIRS).
The USFA maintains that database and they are launching a new fire information analytics platform, known as the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS). NERIS will replace NFIRS as the national standard and will be rolled out nationally and the legacy NFIRS system will sunset Jan. 2026. The USFA has scheduled the rollout for Pennsylvania for September 2025, during which PA fire departments will be onboarded onto the NERIS system.
Most fire departments use fire reporting software to report into PennFIRS. While departments may choose the vendor they prefer, OSFC provides a no-cost option that allows PA fire departments to meet the minimum PennFIRS reporting requirements. During the USFA’s transition from NFIRS to NERIS, the Commonwealth is also transitioning fire incident reporting software vendors from Emergency Reporting (ER) to Emergency Networking (EN).
PennFIRS Vendor Information
Following the Commonwealth’s procurement process, Emergency Networking, which complies with federal standards, incident record-keeping policies, and satisfies reporting requirements for PennFIRS, will now support the Commonwealth’s fire incident reporting needs. As we transition to the new platform, here's what we can share at this time:
- Our goal is to support a single-source reporting model. Most departments should be able to submit their incident data directly from their current software, without any additional steps.
- You may continue using your preferred fire reporting software vendor. OSFC will provide the Emergency Networking modules for PennFIRS reporting compliance at no cost.
- Our legacy reporting software, Emergency Reporting, will remain operational and supported during this transition. The anticipated switchover date from Emergency Reporting to Emergency Networking is October 1, 2025. Details on how historical data will be imported into the new system will be provided in the future.
- Integration pathways will be available for third-party vendors to connect with the new PennFIRS system.
- The new system is NERIS compliant. OSFC will accept data submitted in either NERIS or NFIRS formats as PennFIRS-compliant until the federal government formally transitions Pennsylvania to the new NERIS standard.
- NFIRS Fire Module
- NERIS Fire Module
- Department Insights (Analytics, Standard Reports, Ad-Hoc Reports)
- Exposure Tracking Module (Tracking Hazardous Exposures to Crew Members)
- Personnel Management
- Staff Activity (Tracking points and hours for payroll & LOSAP requirements)
- Daily Log
- Events
- Crew Schedule & Shifts
- Document Library
- Certification Tracking
- Multi-Agency Single Sign On functionality
- Importing historical NFIRS data for all accounts
Transitions, Training & Timing
Transitions
As mentioned above, there are two transitions occurring at the same time. The federal transition from NFIRS to NERIS and the Commonwealth vendor transition from Emergency Reporting to Emergency Networking. The timelines below should help you keep track of the timing and available training.
Training
NERIS in Action Webinar (7/29/2025). This recorded webinar explores how fire departments across the country are adopting the NERIS. Hear real-world onboarding stories, see new dashboard tools in action, and learn how NERIS supports both frontline responders and department leadership with better data and insights. Includes full webinar, NERIS platform demo, and website walkthrough.
Emergency Networking Training: Emergency Networking and the OSFC will be hosting monthly virtual trainings (timing TBD) and three in-person trainings for Emergency Networking. Each in-person date will have two sessions available. 1pm-3pm and 6pm-9pm. Virtual trainings will be recorded and available online.
Allegheny County Emergency Services Center – Wednesday, September 10th, 2025
Montgomery County Fire Academy – Wednesday, September 17th, 2025
Central PA (location TBD) – Wednesday, September 24th, 2025
Timing
Incidents can be submitted to either NFIRS or NERIS for the remainder of 2025. Once a fire department completes onbording onto NERIS and starts reporting incidents, they do not also have to submit to NFIRS.
2025
- September 1, 2025 - Pennsylvania rollout of NERIS onboarding.
- September 30, 2025 – Anticipated last day Emergency Reporting will be available.
- October 1, 2025 - PA fire departments begin reporting into NERIS. NFIRS data still acceptable.
2026
- January 1, 2026 – 2026 incidents will no longer be acceptable in NFIRS.
- January 15, 2026 – End date for 2025 incidents to be submitted into NFIRS. This is required for our FCEMS Grant compliance.
- January 31, 2026 – End date for edits/modifications for 2025 incident records in NFIRS.
- February 2026 - NFIRS will be offline.
Historical Data
Law requires 7 years of historical data to be retained. The process for retaining these records depends on your current reporting method:
Emergency Reporting Users moving to Emergency Networking: Use Emergency Networking’s data export guide (PDF) to export your data and follow their instructions for importing your data into their system
Emergency Reporting Users moving to another vendor: Use Emergency Networking’s data export guide (PDF) to export your data and work with your vendor to import your data into their system, ensuring at least 7 years of records are retained and complies with all record retention policies.
Non-Emergency Reporting Users moving to another other vendor: Work with current and future vendors for specific guidance, ensuring at least 7 years of records are retained and complies with all record retention policies.
PennFIRS Monthly Reports
Monthly participation reports will be available in both NFIRS & NERIS standards for PennFIRS compliance through current and previous year reflecting around the grant cycle.
