The transition from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) represents one of the most significant changes the fire service has seen in decades. For many volunteer fire departments, the shift to NERIS can feel overwhelming. Questions like: What is changing? When do we need to be ready? What information should we be tracking? Do we need new software? How will this impact reporting? are becoming increasin

For many volunteer fire departments, an ISO review can feel intimidating. Departments spend countless hours preparing documentation, gathering records, and ensuring they can demonstrate compliance with various operational requirements. While apparatus, training, water supply, and response capabilities all play important roles in an ISO evaluation, one area that often creates unnecessary stress is recordkeeping. The reality is simple: You may be doing the right things as a dep

Fire departments invest thousands — and often hundreds of thousands — of dollars into equipment. From turnout gear and SCBA cylinders to radios, hose, and apparatus tools, every piece of equipment plays a critical role in firefighter safety and operational readiness. Yet many volunteer fire departments still struggle with one simple question: Do we know exactly what equipment we have, where it is, who is using it, and when it needs attention? Unfortunately, the answer is ofte