Your NERIS Transition Checklist: What Fire Departments Need to Know

Three firefighter uniforms and helmets hang on hooks against a gray brick wall, with a large white check mark overlayed in the center.

The fire service is preparing for the biggest shift in fire data reporting in decades: the transition from NFIRS to NERIS. As NERIS rolls out across the U.S., departments using ImageTrend Elite can stay ahead of the curve with a structured approach to configuration, training, and reporting readiness.

Whether your agency transitions early or is waiting until January 1, 2026, there are steps you can take now to prepare. That’s why we created this NERIS Transition Checklist to help you navigate the process.

 

1. Pre-Transition Steps

Before you configure your new run form or test submissions, make sure your agency details are complete:

  • Review and update Agency Locations to include physical addresses
  • Ensure the Agency Location designated as your Headquarters includes a mailing address

 

2. Configuration & Demo Testing

Use a Demo Agency in Elite to explore form layouts, validation settings, and user workflows:

  • Review the Step-by-Step Transition Guide in ImageTrend University
  • Consider the optional paid training series (two 2-hour webinars) for hands-on assistance
  • Activate NERIS in a Demo Agency in Elite
  • Import the Deploy NERIS Form and National (NERIS) Validation Rules from the Library
  • Begin configuration of the NERIS run form at the System Level
  • Create Preset Values, Supplemental Questions, local Validation Rules, and local Visibility Rules for new fields, if applicable
  • Test user workflows within the Demo Agency

 

3. Training & Resources

Equip your team with up-to-date training and information:

 

4. Reporting & Submission Readiness

Ensure your agency is ready for seamless data submission:

  • Understand your state’s reporting timeline and NERIS transition plan
  • Identify triggers and workflows for incident submission

 

Pro Tips

  • NERIS supports up to three incident types per report
  • CAD reconfiguration needs are still being evaluated as part of the NERIS transition
  • Secondary schema development will begin in 2026
  • Your agency can go live in 2025 or wait until 1/1/2026, state-dependent
  • Agencies will be able to activate NERIS in demo environments starting mid-summer 2025

 

Want to download the NERIS transition checklist? Grab the PDF version here.

Need help with your agency’s NERIS transition? Visit our NERIS Fire Reporting Hub or reach out to an ImageTrend expert.

Together, we’ll ensure your department is ready for the future of fire data reporting.

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