Eagan, MN (September 5, 2025) – ImageTrend, LLC has released a policy position statement regarding the data flow requirements of the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS). While supporting NERIS’ mission to modernize incident reporting, ImageTrend recognizes that states and agencies may benefit from a data flow model that maintains their existing oversight and compliance structures, from agency to state, and then to NERIS.
NERIS has communicated in its documentation that incident data is to flow directly from agencies to NERIS, then from NERIS to the respective state. ImageTrend believes that this structure creates compliance risks by omitting state-mandated custom fields not included in the NERIS schema and undermines the longstanding role of states as the authoritative stewards of their agency reporting data.
State-specific compliance requirements exist for good reason: they ensure states have the visibility they need to monitor data quality, state and local risks, and act quickly to protect their crews and communities. Losing these fields in the reporting chain could mean lost opportunities to recognize issues such as rising injury types, fire hazards, personnel exposures, or regional safety concerns.
ImageTrend’s policy position is clear: the recommended data flow is agency → state → NERIS. This model ensures compliance, upholds state oversight, protects data quality, and maintains the integrity of agency reporting.
“Fire agencies deserve assurance that the software supporting their data is implemented to enhance accuracy, support compliance, and be distributed to the appropriate governing bodies,” said Patrick Sheahan, CEO and President at ImageTrend. “The agency to state to NERIS data model ensures local agency and state requirements are met first, while supporting NERIS’ important goal of building a modern national fire data system.”
The full policy position statement is available on ImageTrend’s website: www.imagetrend.com/blog/neris-data-flow-policy/
ImageTrend’s implementation strategy created a new NERIS dataset within Elite, rather than the approach taken by other providers, which involved expanding the existing fire dataset. ImageTrend’s new dataset minimizes changes for providers, making the transition to NERIS as smooth as possible.
To support agencies and states through this transition, ImageTrend has published a NERIS Transition Checklist and a NERIS Resource Page with FAQs and additional information.
