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Fighting Fires with Facts: It's Time for the Fire and Emergency Services to Open Its Eyes — Information Sharing via NFIRS
Track(s): Fire & Emergency Services

Marion Long, United States Fire Administration

Audio Sample:




For the fire and emergency services, closing its eyes is symbolic of shutting out other departments and users of fire data from using the department's incident data. It prevents departments from seeing and using data from more than 30,000 fire departments in the United States. When the fire service's eyes are open, information sharing begins. In our ever-changing world, the fire service's first line of defense is timely, accurate information that is shared, integrated, analyzed, and acted upon quickly and effectively. The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) is the fire service's portal for information sharing. First, the fire service's eyes must be open. This session teaches you the steps to good incident information sharing within the fire service.

Marion A. Long is a Fire Program Specialist for the United States Fire Administration in Emmitsburg, MD. He has been working with the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for more than 25 years. His experience and background includes NFIRS Program Manager for Virginia, National Fire Information Council (NFIC) Board Member, NFIC System Committee Chairman, NFPA 901 Reporting Committee Member, National Fire Academy NFIRS Instructor, and NFIRS Technical Advisor.