NOTICE TO ALL FIRE DEPARTMENTS!!
The WV State Fire Marshal’s Office has been on-line with the U.S. Fire Administration using NFIRS Version 5.0 since December 2002. We strongly
recommend that all FD’s not currently doing computer-based reporting seriously consider upgrading from Version 4.1 (printed forms) to 5.0. Currently, 180 FD’s are reporting on-line; 66 FD’s are doing computer-based reporting with purchased software; and 199 FD’s continue to send paper reports.
You can download the software required for NFIRS 5.0 for FREE by visiting the National Fire Information Council’s website at: www.nfirs.fema.gov
In an effort to phase out submission of reports on paper, we encourage you to submit on-line, by e-mail (nfirs@wvfiremarshal.org), or on disk (using appropriate mailers to prevent damage.
If you are using a computer program with NFIRS 4.1 or NFIRS 5.0, do NOT send us paper copies of your reports. They must be e-mailed to us, or sent on disk.
We will continue to accept reports in NFIRS 4.1 format (handwritten reports) until further notice. When necessary, we convert 4.1 data into the 5.0 format our office and the USFA requires.
You must include the following on ALL reports: incident number; exposure number; property & contents loss estimates; fixed property use; officer in charge; and member making report. These are fields required by the SFMO. Failure to complete these fields will result in your being notified that the report needs to be corrected and resubmitted.
The Public Education Division has developed an 8-hr. “hands-on” computer course in NFIRS 5.0 geared to beginner and intermediate levels. This class is generally scheduled on Saturdays and delivered on a county-wide basis.
If you need help or have questions about your fire reports, appropriate codes to use, or to request the training mentioned above, contact the Public Education Division of the WV SFMO at 304-558-2191, Ext. 223. |
|
