Sumter County Selected as One of the First Departments to Transition to NERIS Version 1

Sumter County is excited to be a part of the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) in its early stages. The County has been selected as one of the first departments nationwide to transition to NERIS Version 1, a modernized platform launched today to improve incident data collection for fire and emergency services across the United States.

NERIS is a secure, cloud-based system developed in collaboration with the American fire service. It provides near-real-time data to help fire and EMS departments make informed decisions, optimize resources, and enhance public safety. The system will help departments respond more effectively to emerging threats like lithium-ion battery fires, wildfires, and extreme weather events.

Sumter County Fire and EMS departments will benefit from NERIS Version 1's improved accuracy in post-incident data, better resource allocation, and more efficient performance evaluations. NERIS is also designed to replace the legacy National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), which will remain operational through 2025. Key benefits of NERIS Version 1 include:

• Improved Resource Allocation: Enhanced understanding of where to place critical resources, including personnel and apparatus.
• Risk Awareness: Nationwide data sharing to identify and mitigate community-level risks.
• Performance Review: Data-driven insights to continuously evaluate response performance and optimize service delivery.
• Advocacy for Resources: Using data to advocate for staffing, equipment, and community support.

Sumter County's involvement in this early transition to NERIS demonstrates our commitment to using cutting-edge technology to better serve our community and improve public safety. NERIS will be rolled out nationwide in January 2025 after a successful beta period with over 60 departments.