National Fire Incident

Reporting System 5.0

Complete Reference Guide

January 2006

U.S. Fire Administration

National Fire Data Center
 Contents

CONTENTS

FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii Shift and Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–34

Shift or Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–34
Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–34
District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–35
Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1–1 Special Studies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–35
How NFIRS Works. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1–2 SECTION F: ACTIONS TAKEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–36
NFIRS Version 5.0 Enhancements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–3
SECTION G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–39
Benefits of NFIRS to Firefighters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–5
Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–39
Coding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–5
Estimated Dollar Losses and Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–40
Structure of the User Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–5
COMPLETED MODULES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–41
SECTION H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–42
Chapter 2. NFIRS 5.0 MODULES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2–1 Casualties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–42
Description of Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–2 Detector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–44
Preparation of Modules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3 Hazardous Materials Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–44
Conventions Used in Completing Modules . . . . . . . . . . . 2–4 SECTION I: MIXED USE PROPERTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–45
Fire Department Header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–5
SECTION J: PROPERTY USE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–47
SECTION K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–53
Person/Entity Involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–53
Chapter 3. BASIC MODULE (NFIRS–1) . . . . . . . . . . .3–1
Business Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–53
Basic Module Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–2 Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–54
Person Involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–54
SECTION A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–4 Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–55
Fire Department Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–4 Post Office Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–55
State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–5 Apartment, Suite, or Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–55
City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–56
Incident Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–6 State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–56
Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–6 ZIP Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–56
Incident Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–7 Owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–57
Exposure Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–7 Business Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–57
Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–57
Delete/Change/No Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–8
Owner Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–58
SECTION B: LOCATION TYPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–10 Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–58
Post Office Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–58
Census Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–12 Apartment, Suite, or Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–59
Number/Milepost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–12 City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–59
Street Prefix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–13 State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–59
ZIP Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–60
Street or Highway Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–13
Street Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–14 SECTION L: REMARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–60
Street Suffix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–16 SECTION M: AUTHORIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–61
Apartment, Suite, or Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–16 Officer in Charge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–61
City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–17 Member Making Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–61
State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–17
ZIP Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–18
Cross Street or Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–18
Chapter 4. FIRE MODULE (NFIRS–2). . . . . . . . . . . . 4–1
SECTION C: INCIDENT TYPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–19
Fire Module Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–2
SECTION D: AID GIVEN OR RECEIVED. . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–28 SECTION A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–3
SECTION E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–31 Fire Department Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–3
Dates and Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3–31 State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–3
Alarm Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–32 Incident Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–3
Arrival Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–32 Station Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–3
Controlled Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–33
Last Unit Cleared Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–33 Incident Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–4
Exposure Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–4
Delete/Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–4

ii NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 Contents

SECTION B: PROPERTY DETAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–4 SECTION M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5–19

Number of Residential Living Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–4 Presence of Automatic Extinguishing System . . . . . . . . 5–19
Number of Buildings Involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–5 Type of Automatic Extinguishing System . . . . . . . . . . . 5–20
Number of Acres Burned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–6 Operation of Automatic Extinguishing System. . . . . . . . 5–21
SECTION C: ON-SITE MATERIALS OR PRODUCTS AND Number of Sprinkler Heads Operating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5–21
ON-SITE MATERIALS STORAGE USE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–7 Reason for Automatic Extinguishing System Failure . . . 5–22

SECTION D: IGNITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–13

Area of Fire Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–13
Chapter 6. CIVILIAN FIRE CASUALTY MODULE
Heat Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–16
(NFIRS–4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–1
Item First Ignited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–18
Type of Material First Ignited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–21 Civilian Fire Casualty Module Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–2
SECTION E:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–24 SECTION A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–3
Cause of Ignition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–24 Fire Department Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–3
Factors Contributing to Ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–25 State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–3
Human Factors Contributing to Ignition. . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–27 Incident Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–3
Station Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–3
SECTION F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–28
Incident Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–4
Equipment Involved in Ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–29
Exposure Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–4
Equipment Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–29
Equipment Brand, Model, Serial Number, and Year . . . . . . . . 4–36 Delete/Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–4
Equipment Power Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–36 SECTION B: INJURED PERSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–4
Equipment Portability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–38 SECTION C: CASUALTY NUMBER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–5
SECTION G: FIRE SUPPRESSION FACTORS . . . . . . . . . . .4–38
SECTION D: AGE OR DATE OF BIRTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–6
SECTION H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–42 Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–6
Mobile Property Involved. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–42 Date of Birth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–6
Mobile Property: Type, Make, Model, Year, License SECTION E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–7
Number, State, VIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–43
Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–7
Ethnicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–8

Chapter 5. STRUCTURE FIRE MODULE SECTION F: AFFILIATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–9

(NFIRS–3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–1 SECTION G: DATE AND TIME OF INJURY . . . . . . . . . . . 6–10
Structure Fire Module Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–2 Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–10
SECTION I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–3 Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–10
Structure Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–3 SECTION H: SEVERITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–11
Building Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–4 SECTION I: CAUSE OF INJURY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–12
Building Height. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–5
SECTION J: HUMAN FACTORS CONTRIBUTING
Main Floor Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–6
TO INJURY .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–13
SECTION J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–6
SECTION K: FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO INJURY . . . 6–14
Fire Origin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–6
Fire Spread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–7 SECTION L: ACTIVITY WHEN INJURED . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–15
Number of Stories Damaged by Flame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–8 SECTION M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–16
SECTION K: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–9 Location at Time of Incident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–16
Item Contributing Most to Flame Spread . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–9 General Location at Time of Injury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–17
Type of Material Contributing Most to Flame Spread . . .5–12 Story at Start of Incident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–18
Story Where Injury Occurred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–18
SECTION L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–15
Specific Location at Time of Injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–19
Presence of Detectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–15
Detector Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–15 SECTION N: PRIMARY APPARENT SYMPTOM . . . . . . . . 6–22
Detector Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–16 SECTION O: PRIMARY AREA OF BODY INJURED . . . . . 6–23
Detector Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–17
SECTION P: DSPOSITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–24
Detector Effectiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–18
Detector Failure Reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5–18 REMARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–25

iii NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 Contents

Chapter 7. FIRE SERVICE CASUALTY MODULE Chapter 8. EMS MODULE (NFIRS–6) . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–1
(NFIRS–5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–1 EMS Module Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–2
Fire Service Casualty Module Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–2 SECTION A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–3
SECTION A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–4 Fire Department Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–3
Fire Department Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–4 State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–3
State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–4 Incident Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–4
Incident Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–4 Station Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–4
Station Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–5 Incident Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–4
Incident Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–5 Exposure Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–4
Exposure Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–5 Delete/Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–4
Delete/Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–5 SECTION B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–5
SECTION B: INJURED PERSON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–6 Number of Patients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–5
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–6 Patient Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–5
Identification Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–6 SECTION C: DATE AND TIME ARRIVED AT PATIENT
Gender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–6 AND TIME OF PATIENT TRANSFER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–6
Affiliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–7
SECTION D: PROVIDER IMPRESSION/ASSESSMENT . . . . 8–7
SECTION C: CASUALTY NUMBER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–7
SECTION E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–8
SECTION D: AGE OR DATE OF BIRTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–8
Age or Date of Birth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–8
Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–8 Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–8
Date of Birth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–9 Date of Birth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–9
SECTION E: DATE AND TIME OF INJURY . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–9 Gender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8– 9
Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–9 SECTION F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–10
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–9 Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–10
SECTION F: RESPONSES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–10 Ethnicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–11

SECTION G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–11 SECTION G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–12

Usual Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–11 Human Factors Contributing to Injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–12
Physical Condition Just Prior to Injury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–12 Other Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–13
Severity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–12 SECTION H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–13
Taken To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–13 Body Site of Injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–13
Activity at Time of Injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–14 Injury Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–15
SECTION H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–16 Cause of Illness/Injury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–16
Primary Apparent Symptom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–16 SECTION I: PROCEDURES USED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–17
Primary Part of Body Injured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–18 SECTION J: SAFETY EQUIPMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–18
SECTION I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–19 SECTION K: CARDIAC ARREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–19
Cause of Firefighter Injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–19 When Cardiac Arrest Occurred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–19
Factor Contributing to Injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–20 Initial Arrest Rhythm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–20
Object Involved in Injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–22
SECTION L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–21
SECTION J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–23
Initial Level of Provider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–21
Where Injury Occurred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–23 Highest Level of Care Provided on Scene. . . . . . . . . . . . 8–22
Story Where Injury Occurred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–24
SECTION M: PATIENT STATUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–23
Specific Location Where Injury Occurred . . . . . . . . . . . .7–25
Vehicle Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–26 SECTION N: EMS DISPOSITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–24
SECTION K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–27
Equipment Sequence Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–27
Chapter 9. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MODULE
Protective Equipment Item . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–28 (NFIRS–7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9–1
Protective Equipment Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7–30
Hazardous Materials Module Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9–2
Equipment Manufacturer, Model, and Serial Number . . .7–31
SECTION A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9–4
Fire Department Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9–4
State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9–4

iv NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 Contents

Incident Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–4 Chapter 10. WILDLAND FIRE MODULE

Station Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–4 (NFIRS–8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–1
Incident Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–4 Wildland Fire Module Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–2
Exposure Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–4
SECTION A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–4
HazMat Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–4
Fire Department Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–4
Delete/Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–5
State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–4
SECTION B: HAZMAT ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–6 Incident Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–4
UN Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–6 Station Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–4
DOT Hazard Classification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–7 Incident Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–5
CAS Registration Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–8 Exposure Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–5
Chemical Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–9 Delete/Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–5
SECTION C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–9 SECTION B: ALTERNATE LOCATION SPECIFICATION . 10–5
Container Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–9
SECTION C: AREA TYPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–8
Estimated Container Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–12
Units: Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–12 SECTION D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–9
Wildland Fire Cause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–9
SECTION D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–13
Human Factors Contributing to Ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–10
Estimated Amount Released . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–13
Factors Contributing to Ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–11
Units: Released . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–14
Fire Suppression Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–13
SECTION E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–15
SECTION E: HEAT SOURCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–16
Physical State When Released . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–15
Released Into. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–16 SECTION F: MOBILE PROPERTY TYPE . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–18

SECTION F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–16 SECTION G: EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IN IGNITION . . . 10–21

Released From . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–17 SECTION H: WEATHER INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–27
Population Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–17 NFDRS Weather Station ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–28
SECTION G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–18 Weather Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–28
Area Affected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–18 Wind Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–29
Area Evacuated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–19 Wind Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–29
Estimated Number of People Evacuated . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–20 Temperature and Relative Humidity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–29
Estimated Number of Buildings Evacuated . . . . . . . . . . .9–20 Fuel Moisture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–30
Fire Danger Rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–30
SECTION H: HAZMAT ACTIONS TAKEN . . . . . . . . . . . .9–21
SECTION I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–31
SECTION I: RELEASE/IGNITION SEQUENCE . . . . . . . . . .9–23
Number of Buildings Ignited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–31
SECTION J: CAUSE OF RELEASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–24 Number of Buildings Threatened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–32
SECTION K: FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO RELEASE . .9–24 Total Acres Burned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–32
Primary Crops Burned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–33
SECTION L: FACTORS AFFECTING MITIGATION . . . . . .9–27
SECTION J: PROPERTY MANAGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–34
SECTION M: EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IN RELEASE. . . . .9–28
Equipment Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–29 SECTION K: NFDRS FUEL MODEL AT ORIGIN . . . . . 10–47
Equipment Brand, Model, Serial Number, and Year . . . .9–35 SECTION L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–50
SECTION N: MOBILE PROPERTY INVOLVED Person Responsible for Fire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–50
INRELEASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–36 Gender of Person Involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–51
Property Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–36 Age or Date of Birth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–51
Make, Model, Year, License Number, State, Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–52
DOT/ICC Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–37 Date of Birth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–52
Activity of Person Involved. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–53
SECTION O: HAZMAT DISPOSITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9–41
SECTION M: TYPE OF RIGHT-OF-WAY . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–54
SECTION P: HAZMAT CIVILIAN CASUALTIES . . . . . . . .9–42
SECTION N: FIRE BEHAVIOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–55
Elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–55
Relative Position on Slope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–55
Aspect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–56
Flame Length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–56
Rate of Spread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–57

v NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 Contents

Chapter 11. APPARATUS OR RESOURCES Station Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–5

MODULE (NFIRS–9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–1 Incident Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–5
Apparatus or Resources Module Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–2 Exposure Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–5
Delete/Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–5
SECTION A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–3
Fire Department Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–3 SECTION B: AGENCY REFERRED TO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–6
State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–3 SECTION C: CASE STATUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–7
Incident Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–3
SECTION D: AVAILABILITY OF MATERIAL FIRST
Station Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–3 IGNITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–8
Incident Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–3
Exposure Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–4 SECTION E: SUSPECTED MOTIVATION FACTORS . . . . . 13–8
Delete/Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–4 SECTION F: APPARENT GROUP INVOLVEMENT . . . . . 13–10
SECTION B: APPARATUS OR RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . .11–4 SECTION G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–11
Dates and Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–6 Entry Method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–11
Dispatch Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–6 Extent of Fire Involvement on Arrival . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–12
Arrival Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–7
Clear Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–7 SECTION H: INCENDIARY DEVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–12
Sent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–8 SECTION I: OTHER INVESTIGATIVE INFORMATION . . 13–14
Number of People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–8
SECTION J: PROPERTY OWNERSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–15
Apparatus or Resource Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–9
Actions Taken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–9 SECTION K: INITIAL OBSERVATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–16
SECTION L: LABORATORY USED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–16
SECTION M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–17
Chapter 12. PERSONNEL MODULE (NFIRS–10) . 12– 1
Subject Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–17
Personnel Module Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–2 Age or Date of Birth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–18
SECTION A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–3 Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–18
Date of Birth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–18
Fire Department Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–3
Gender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–19
State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–3
Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–20
Incident Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–3
Ethnicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–20
Station Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–3
Family Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–21
Incident Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–3
Motivation/Risk Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–22
Exposure Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–4
Disposition of Person Under 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–23
Delete/Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–4
SECTION B: APPARATUS OR RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . .12–4
Dates and Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–6
Chapter 14. SUPPLEMENTAL FORM
Dispatch Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12–6
Arrival Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12–7
(NFIRS–1S) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–1
Clear Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12–7 Supplemental Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–2
Sent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–8
SECTION A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–4
Number of People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–8
Fire Department Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–4
Apparatus or Resource Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–9
State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14– 4
Actions Taken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–9
Incident Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–4
Personnel ID, Name, and Rank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–12
Station Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–4
Attend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–13
Incident Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–5
Actions Taken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–13
Exposure Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–5
Delete/Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–5
SECTION K: PERSON/ENTITY INVOLVED . . . . . . . . . . . 14–5
Chapter 13. ARSON MODULE (NFIRS–11) . . . . . . .13–1
Business Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–5
Arson Module Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13–2
Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–6
SECTION A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13–5 Person Involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–6
Fire Department Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13–5 Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–7
State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13–5 Post Office Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–7
Incident Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13–5 Apartment, Suite, or Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–7

vi NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 Contents

City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14–7 Equipment Involved in Ignition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–25

State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14–8 Equipment Involved in Release. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–25
ZIP Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14–8
SECTION E: SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIAL STUDIES: . . . . . .14–9
Appendix C. GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND
SECTION L: REMARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14–9
ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–1
Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–2
Abbreviations for States and Provinces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–9
Appendix A. PAPER FORMS FOR NFIRS 5.0
U.S. States. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–9
MODULES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A–1 U.S. Territories and Possessions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–9
Canadian Provinces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–10
Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–10
Abbreviations for Street Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–10
Appendix B. ALPHABETIZED SYNONYMS OF
Principal Meridians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–12
SELECTED CODE LISTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–1
Abbreviations Used in Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C–13
Property Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–3
On-Site Materials or Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–9
Area of Fire Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–14
Appendix D. IDENTIFICATION OF CHEMICALS
Specific Location at Time of Injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–14
AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D–1
Item First Ignited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–18
Item Contributing Most to Flame Spread . . . . . . . . . . . . B–18
Type of Material First Ignited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B–22
Type of Material Contributing Most to Flame Spread . . B–22 INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index–1

vii NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 FOREWORD

In 1972, the President's Commission on Fire Prevention and Control published America Burn-
ing. This document was the first in-depth discussion of this country's fire problem. An out-
growth of America Burning was the National Fire Prevention and Control Act, Public Law
93–498, which established the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration.

One of the results of the P.L. 93–498 mandate to collect national data on fires was the estab-
lishment of the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). In 1976, six states piloted
what eventually evolved to NFIRS. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a component of the
Department of Homeland Security, developed NFIRS as a means of assessing the nature and
scope of the fire problem in the United States.

NFIRS has grown in both participation and use. Over the life of the system, all 50 states, more
than 40 major metropolitan areas, and more than 15,000 fire departments have participated in
NFIRS. On a yearly basis, approximately 600,000 fire incidents and more than 5 million non-
fire incidents are added to the database. NFIRS is the world's largest collection of incidents to
which fire departments respond.

NFIRS data are used at all levels of government. At the local level, incident and casualty
information is used for setting priorities and targeting resources. The data now being collected
are particularly useful for designing fire prevention and educational programs and emergency
medical service (EMS)-related activities specifically suited to the real emergency problems
the local community faces.

On the state level, NFIRS is used in many capacities. One valuable contribution is that NFIRS
data are used by state legislatures to justify budgets and to pass important bills on fire-related
issues such as sprinklers, fireworks, and arson.

Many federal agencies, in addition to USFA, make use of NFIRS data—the Consumer Prod-
uct Safety Commission, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National
Institute of Standards and Technology to name a few. The Consumer Product Safety Commis-
sion has found NFIRS very useful in identifying potentially hazardous products.

Nationally, NFIRS is used by various private industries, including national associations for
home appliance product manufacturers, the hotel and motel industry, insurance companies,
and attorneys.

Because NFIRS is a voluntary system, not all states or fire departments within states partici-
pate. In 1977, only 5 states regularly reported data to the National Fire Data Center, and 19
others had data systems in some stage of development. Since then, participation has increased
significantly so that an estimated 44 percent of all U.S. fires to which fire departments
respond are captured in NFIRS.

iii NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 Foreword

States have the flexibility to adapt their state reporting systems to their specific needs, and
reporting by localities is voluntary. Therefore, the design of a state's data collection system
varies from state to state. However, NFIRS was designed so that data from state systems can
be converted to a single format that is used at the national level to aggregate and store NFIRS
data.

As participation in NFIRS increased, the system itself has undergone revisions and updates.
The latest update of the system is Version 5.0, which provides many improvements both from
the standpoint of those who submit the data and for those who use it. This reference guide
provides step-by-step instructions for submitting fire incident information to NFIRS 5.0.

Comments and suggestions on further improvements to this guide are solicited and should be
submitted to National Fire Data Center, U.S. Fire Administration, Department of Homeland
Security, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727. Comments can also be
made on line on the USFA web form at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/.

iv NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION
 Introduction

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

This reference guide is a component of the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) Ver-
sion 5.0. It provides both instructions for reporting data to NFIRS Version 5.0 and an understand-
ing of the data elements collected by the system. It also serves as a reference for the coding of the
data. NFIRS (pronounced “en-furs”) is a tool that fire departments use both to report fires and
other incidents to which fire departments respond and to maintain records of these incidents in a
uniform manner.

NFIRS 5.0 is a modular, all-incident reporting system designed by the U.S. Fire Administration, a
part of the Department of Homeland Security, with input from the fire service and other users of
the data.

How NFIRS Works

In 2001, more than 12,000 fire departments participated in NFIRS. After responding to an
incident, fire department personnel complete one or more of the NFIRS “modules.” The infor-
mation in these modules describes the kind of incident responded to, where it occurred, the
resources used to mitigate it and how, losses, and other information designed specifically to
understand the nature and causes of fire, hazardous material (HazMat), and emergency medi-
cal service (EMS) incidents. Information is also collected on the number of civilian or fire-
fighter casualties and an estimate of property loss. The uniformity of definitions used in
coding NFIRS fields makes aggregation of national data possible.

Information is entered about an emergency response either manually on a form or directly

through a computer. Local agencies forward the completed NFIRS modules to the state
agency responsible for NFIRS data. The state agency combines the information with data
from other fire departments into a statewide database and then transmits the data to the
National Fire Data Center (NFDC) at the U.S. Fire Administration. The NFDC can then com-
pare and contrast statistics from states and large metropolitan departments to develop national
public education campaigns, make recommendations for national codes and standards, guide
allocation of federal funds, determine consumer product failures, identify the focus for
research efforts, and support federal legislation. NFIRS is the primary source of data for a
wide range of analyses and reports, including USFA’s publication Fire in the United States,
which is the single most comprehensive reference on the nature and scope of the fire problem
in the United States.

At the national level, data combined from participating states are also used by information
partners, as shown in the following graphic.

. 1–2 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 Introduction

INCIDENT REPORTING PROCESS

LOCAL FIRE
DEPARTMENT LOCAL FIRE
INCIDENT DEPARTMENT
REPORTS DATA

STATE INCIDENT
REPORTING
AUTHORITY CONSUMER
PRODUCT
INTERNATIONAL SAFETY
ASSOCIATION COMMISSION
OF (CPSC)
FIREFIGHTERS
(IAFF)

NATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION HIGHWAY
ASSOCIATION TRAFFIC SAFETY
OF FIRE CHIEFS NATIONAL FIRE DATA CENTER ADMINISTRATION
(IAFC) (NHTSA)
DATABASE

NATIONAL FIRE NATIONAL

PROTECTION ASSOCIATION OF
ASSOCIATION STATE FIRE
(NFPA) MARSHALS
NATIONAL
VOLUNTEER (NASFM)
FIRE COUNCIL
(NVFC)

NFIRS Version 5.0 Enhancements

NFIRS 5.0 is an information-based system with data entry, data storage, and data retrieval,
whether for a single incident or in aggregate, aggregated via a computer that interacts with the
database. Because not all fire departments use computers for their record keeping, paper
forms are available. Paper forms are forwarded to a central point where the data are entered to
a database. This guide provides detailed instructions for completing paper forms. Automated
reporting systems, however, should be designed to capture the data in the same order as these
paper forms, so this guide is relevant to anyone who must collect and report incident data.

In Version 5.0, a series of descriptions with assigned code numbers is used to describe inci-
dents. Many of these descriptive phrases were created by the National Fire Protection Associ-
ation (NFPA) and published in NFPA 901, Standard Classifications for Incident Reporting
and Fire Protection Data, 1995 edition. Appropriate codes are included in this user guide.
Many improvements that have been incorporated into Version 5.0 are the result of suggestions
made by participating fire departments, state agencies, and the National Fire Information
Council.

. 1–3 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 Introduction

The type and content of data collected by NFIRS 5.0 have evolved over more than 25 years
and are based on the participation of all 50 states and more than 40 metropolitan fire depart-
ments. NFIRS 5.0 captures information on all incidents to which a fire department responds.
In addition to many data coding improvements, Version 5.0 provides five new modules that
recognize the increasingly diverse activities of fire departments today: an EMS Module, a
Wildland Fire Module, an Apparatus Module, a Personnel Module, and an Arson Module.
Other modules have been extensively revised.

The modular design of NFIRS 5.0 makes the system easier to use than previous NFIRS ver-
sions because it captures only the data required to profile the extent of the incident. Some
fires, for example, require just basic information, whereas others require considerably more
detail. The accuracy and reliability of the collected data are improved because of the way
questions are asked and data are coded.

The selection of data elements and the coding selections for the data have been revised to
reduce confusion or improve data quality. For example, codes using 9 to indicate “not other-
wise classified” have been changed to the value of 0 (zero) where it may be necessary to code
something as “other.” The internal codes for “insufficient information to classify further”
have been eliminated. A single code of “U” (or “UU” or “UUU” depending on field size) is
available to designate “unknown” or “undetermined.” Although NFIRS Version 4.1 allowed a
distinction between the 9 code (“not otherwise classified”) and the 0 code (“insufficient infor-
mation to classify further”), the distinction between these codes was often unclear to the
respondent.

Other improvements incorporated in NFIRS 5.0 include:

• Compound data elements have been eliminated. Some of the previous data elements
asked for multiple pieces of information. NFIRS 5.0 splits these data elements into single-
issue questions to eliminate often confusing and ambiguous or incorrect answers. Although
this increased the number of fields or questions being asked, the choices are clearer and the
number of codes has decreased. For example, “Equipment Involved in Ignition” in Version
4.1 is a complex list of equipment that not only identifies the equipment, but also includes
data on its power source and portability. Version 5.0 has three categories (Equipment, Equip-
ment Portability, and Equipment Power Source) that makes coding easier, more accurate, and
more specific.
• Contained, no-loss fires are simply reported using only the Basic Module, with as few as
three codes having to be looked up and entered when using the paper forms.
• Small spills of common hazardous materials are documented only in the Basic Module
instead of requiring the fire department to complete all the details that are necessary for spills
that are more significant. Detailed information is completed on the HazMat Module
(NFIRS–7) if a serious release of hazardous materials occurs.
• Reporting the failures of protective clothing and equipment worn or used by firefighters
has been simplified to focus only on items whose failure contributed to a casualty (i.e., injury
or fatality).

. 1–4 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 Introduction

For convenience to users familiar with the code s of NFIRS 4.1, references are provided in
this guide to the titles of the NFIRS 4.1 code lists that have changed in NFIRS 5.0.

Benefits of NFIRS to Firefighters

Firefighters will find that NFIRS 5.0 is easier to use than previous versions. Also, two of the
new modules, Apparatus and Personnel, will assist fire departments in managing apparatus,
personnel, and resources.

Each fire department is responsible for planning and managing its operations so that firefight-
ers can perform their roles of fire control and fire prevention most effectively and efficiently.
The availability of accurate information about fires and other incidents is vital in achieving
maximum performance. Patterns that emerge from the analysis of incident data can help
departments focus on current problems, predict future problems in their communities, and
measure their programs' performance.

Coding
In 1963, NFPA formed a technical committee to devise a uniform system of fire reporting to
encourage fire departments to use a common set of definitions. NFPA 901, Standard Classifi-
cations for Incident Reporting and Fire Protection Data, was developed as a dictionary of fire
terminology and associated numerical codes. As the fire service gained experience with this
fire data “language,” continuous improvements have been possible. The set of codes used in
NFIRS 5.0 represents the merging of the ideas from NFPA 901 with the many suggested
improvements from users of the NFIRS 4.1 coding system.

Structure of the User Guide

Chapter 2 briefly describes the 11 NFIRS modules, provides general guidance on when each
module should be used, and details standard conventions that are to be used when completing
these modules. Chapters 3 through 13 cover NFIRS modules 1 through 11, respectively, in
detail. Guidance is provided on how each field of the module form should be completed and
defines the codes that are used in the system. Chapter 14 addresses information that might be
submitted on a supplemental form (NFIRS–1S). Full-size replicas of all NFIRS forms are
found in Appendix A.

Appendix B is an index of NFIRS 5.0 synonyms of selected code lists that have been alpha-
betized. Appendix C is a glossary of terms and abbreviations. Appendix D is an alphabetized
listing of chemicals and hazardous materials.

. 1–5 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

Chapter 2

NFIRS 5.0 MODULES

 NFIRS 5.0 Modules

CHAPTER 2

NFIRS 5.0 MODULES

NFIRS Version 5.0 consists of 11 modules. The Basic Module is to be completed for every inci-
dent, with additional modules used as appropriate to describe the incident.

Description of Modules
The Basic Module (NFIRS–1) captures general information on every incident (or emergency
call) to which the department responds.

THE FOLLOWING MODULES ARE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH

THE BASIC MODULE, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED FOR EVERY
INCIDENT TO WHICH YOUR DEPARTMENT RESPONDS

The Fire Module (NFIRS–2) is used to describe each fire incident to which the department
responds. For wildland fire incidents, the Wildland Module can be used instead of the Fire
Module if that option is available by your state reporting authority.

The Structure Fire Module (NFIRS–3) is used to describe each structure fire to which the
department responds. This module is used in conjunction with the Fire Module.

The Civilian Fire Casualty Module (NFIRS–4) is used to report injuries or deaths to civilians
or other emergency personnel (e.g., police officers, non-fire department/EMS personnel) that
are related to a fire incident. This module is used in conjunction with the Fire Module and, if
applicable, the Structure Fire Module. Non-fire-related injuries or deaths to civilians can be
reported on the EMS Module.

The Fire Service Casualty Module (NFIRS–5) is used to report injuries and deaths of fire-
fighters. The module can also be used to report the exposure of a firefighter to chemicals or
biological agents at an incident where that exposure does not result in any symptoms at that
time but that manifest themselves at a later date. This module may be used with any of the
other modules.

THE FOLLOWING MODULES (NFIRS–6 THROUGH –11)

ARE OPTIONAL MODULES THAT ARE USED ONLY
WHEN THAT OPTION(S) IS SELECTED BY YOUR
STATE REPORTING AUTHORITY

The EMS Module (NFIRS–6) is completed by fire departments that provide emergency med-
ical services. The module is used to report all medical incidents where the department pro-
vided the primary patient care. This includes incidents where there were civilian fire-related
casualties and a Civilian Fire Casualty Module was completed and where there were fire-
fighter fire-related casualties and a Fire Service Casualty Module was completed. (This

2–2 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 NFIRS 5.0 Modules

module does not serve as a patient care record, but it can be used in conjunction with the local
requirements for patient care.)

The Hazardous Materials Module (NFIRS–7) is completed to report spills or releases of 55

gallons or more of hazardous materials or when special HazMat actions were taken. As appro-
priate, the module is used in conjunction with the Fire Module or other modules to provide
detailed information about incidents involving hazardous materials.

The Wildland Fire Module (NFIRS–8) is completed to report incidents that involve wildland
or vegetation fires. The module is used in lieu of the Fire Module for wildland fire incidents.

The Apparatus or Resources Module (NFIRS–9), a department-use module, is completed to

report data specific to each piece of apparatus that responds to an incident. It includes infor-
mation that can be used to calculate response time and time out of service. This module is not
used if the Personnel Module is used.

The Personnel Module (NFIRS–10), a department-use module, is completed to report the

same information as on the Apparatus or Resources Module, but it also provides for tracking
the personnel associated with that apparatus.

The Arson Module (NFIRS–11) is completed to report additional information on fires that
have been coded by the department as “intentionally set.”

In addition to the 11 modules, a Supplemental Form (NFIRS–1S) can be used to report infor-
mation on additional persons and entities involved in the incident and to collect additional
special studies fields. This paper-only form extends the amount of information collected in
the Basic Module.

Preparation of Modules
Both local and state agencies should establish standard procedures on how to complete the
NFIRS reporting modules and how to submit the modules to the state reporting activity. These
procedures will help ensure consistency in the data received and provide guidance to those
filling out the modules. Each coded field in on-line NFIRS systems has the capability to be
expanded by another alpha-numeric character so that information more specific than the
national standard addresses can be collected.

The majority of the information on the modules is obtained at the scene by emergency
responder personnel. An emergency responder at the scene should be assigned the responsi-
bility of recording the required information concerning each incident. To gather additional
information or to confirm one's own impressions, the individual completing the module
should contact others involved with the incident. Contacts may include on-scene fire service
personnel, police and civilians at the scene, the dispatcher, EMS personnel, hospital staff, fire
and building inspectors, the arson investigator, the local fire module coordinator, and state-
level officials responsible for coordinating the reporting system. Most importantly, the mod-
ule should reflect exactly what happened.

2–3 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 NFIRS 5.0 Modules

Once the module has been completed, the information should be reviewed at the local level
before it is signed by the officer in charge at the incident and by the individual completing the
module. Originals of the modules should be kept for departmental use and files, and copies
forwarded to the state that will transmit them to the National Fire Data Center.

Modifications to original incident reports can be submitted later when additional information
becomes available or if any of the original information changes or is found to be incorrect. A
person injured in a fire who dies within 1 year as a result of the injuries is an example of the
type of new information that could be cause for submitting a “change report.”

Once computerized, the data can be presented in a variety of ways, such as summaries, com-
parisons, and reports. The web-based reporting tool made available to NFIRS users by the
National Fire Data Center is able to produce a variety of reports. Many localities and depart-
ments develop data analysis and display programs to meet their own requirements. For more
information concerning the new NFIRS 5.0, contact the U.S. Fire Administration or visit its
web site at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/ and follow the links to the National Fire Data Center.

Conventions Used in Completing Modules

Each time a fire service unit moves in response to an alarm, the Basic Module (NFIRS–1)
must be completed. One report is completed for each incident. Other modules are completed
as appropriate.

A form depicting the data for each module is shown at the beginning of that module's chapter.
The entire set of forms (full-size) is included in Appendix A. The forms are divided into let-
tered sections, and blocks divide sections. Blocks are formed by the section letter and the
number of the block within the section (e.g., Section A, Block A1). The different blocks
within a section contain related information. The modules are designed to help emergency
personnel report incident information in a straightforward and orderly manner. Many of the
codes are printed on the paper modules to expedite the report process. For many situations,
however, the correct codes will need to be looked up.

Modules should be completed according to the type of incident being reported. Instruction is
given on the module when necessary. All sections that have a star ( ) by the title are
required fields. Throughout this guide, notes or important considerations are indicated with a
pointed finger (.).

Each module is discussed one section at a time in the chapters that follow. Each item or block
in each section is described by its definition, purpose, entry, and example. In addition, for
those items requiring a numerical code, the codes and a coded example are shown.

• The definition provides a common meaning for all, which ensures consistency in under-
standing and application.
• The purpose gives a brief explanation as to why the information has been requested; it
may also indicate how the information could be of additional use.

2–4 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 NFIRS 5.0 Modules

• The entry provides guidance on the type of information to place in the entry block.
• The example shows how the entry might look for a particular situation.

Within the data coding used in this system, a few conventions assist in reporting. The letters
“N,” “NN,” or “NNN” are used to indicate “none” in a field that is normally coded. The let-
ters “U,” “UU,” or “UUU” are used to indicate “unknown” or “undetermined” in a field that
is normally coded. If the field is a numeric field such as dollar loss, 0 (zero) is used to indicate
none. Numeric fields such as dollar loss can be left blank if a value is unknown or if the inci-
dent is not a fire.

. The coded field should not be left blank as that is an indication that the person completing
the report missed it or forgot to fill it out.

Please note that the numbers “0,” “00,” or “000” are valid codes for many coded fields. These
have the value for “other” and are intended to be used where the item or issue being coded is
identifiable but the code selection list does not contain the description of what has been iden-
tified for that data element. In some data elements, codes ending in “0” allow for further iden-
tification of the item or issue, as in the case where part of the answer is known but not enough
to code it at the specific level required by the options in the list.

The entry of data into fields should follow the following conventions:

• Text fields should be left justified.

• Numeric fields should be right justified.
• Coded fields do not need to be justified since they should fit the entry space exactly.

Fire Department Header

Before data may be entered into NFIRS 5.0, each fire department must have established a
header record. This record is established only once in the system and then updated whenever
there is a change in the department’s information.

. Creation of or changes to the header record must be reviewed or approved by each depart-
ment’s state NFIRS program manager.

As a rule of thumb, if a department has a Fire Department Identification (FDID) number, a

header has already been established. Most of the existing records were created from the con-
version of NFIRS 4.1 header records at the state level; however, many of the fields may be
blank because they are new to NFIRS 5.0. It is recommended that each department review
their header record to ensure completeness.

The following table shows the fire department header fields:

2–5 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 NFIRS 5.0 Modules

Field Field
Field Name Type Length

Fire Department Identification* Text 5

Fire Department State* Coded 2

Record Type Numeric 5

Transaction Type Coded 1

Fire Department Name Text 30

Fire Department Street Number or Milepost* Text 8

Fire Department Street Prefix* Coded 2

Fire Department Street or Highway Name* Text 30

Fire Department Street Type* Coded 4

Fire Department Street Suffix* Coded 2

Fire Department City* Text 20

Fire Department ZIP* Numeric 9

Fire Department Phone Numeric 10

Fire Department Fax Numeric 10

Fire Department E-Mail Text 45

Fire Department FIPS County Code Text 3

Number of Stations Numeric 3

Number of Paid Firefighters Numeric 4

Number of Volunteer Firefighters Numeric 4

Number of Volunteer Paid Per Call Numeric 4

*Definitions and abbreviations for these fields are presented in Chapter 3, Sections A and B.

2–6 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE

 Basic Module -

Basic Module
(NFIRS–1)

Fire Module
(NFIRS–2)

Chapter 3
Structure Fire Module
BASIC MODULE (NFIRS–3)

(NFIRS–1)
Civilian Fire
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–4)

Fire Service
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–5)

EMS Module
State NFIRS (NFIRS–6)
Reporting Authority

HazMat Module
(NFIRS–7)

U.S. Fire Administration

NATIONAL FIRE DATA CENTER
Wildland Fire
Module (NFIRS–8)

Apparatus/
Personnel Modules
(NFIRS–9/–10)

Arson Module
(NFIRS–11)
The denotes a required field. 3–1 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 MM DD YYYY
A Delete
Change
NFIRS–1
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure
Basic
No Activity

Location Type Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire Census Tract
B Module in Section B, “Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires.
-
Street address
Intersection
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Rear of -
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
Directions
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

Incident Type Dates and Times Midnight is 0000 Shifts and Alarms
C E1 E2 Local Option
Month Day Year Hour Min
Incident Type Check boxes if ALARM always required
dates are the
Alarm Shift or Alarms District
Aid Given or Received None same as Alarm
D Date. Platoon
ARRIVAL required, unless canceled or did not arrive
1 Special Studies
2
Mutual aid received
Auto. aid received
Arrival E3 Local Option
Their FDID Their CONTROLLED optional, except for wildland fires
3 Mutual aid given State
4 Auto. aid given Controlled
Special Special
5 Other aid given Last Unit LAST UNIT CLEARED, required except for wildland fires Study ID# Study Value
Their Incident Number
Cleared

Actions Taken Resources Estimated Dollar Losses and Values

F G1 G2
Check this box and skip this block if an Required for all fires if known.
Apparatus or Personnel Module is used. LOSSES: Optional for non-fires. None
Primary Action Taken (1) Property $ , ,
Apparatus Personnel
Suppression Contents $ , ,
Additional Action Taken (2)
EMS PRE-INCIDENT VALUE: Optional
Other Property $ , ,
Additional Action Taken (3)
Check box if resource counts include aid Contents $ , ,
received resources.

Completed Modules Casualties H3 Hazardous Materials Release None I Mixed Use

Fire–2
H1 None
Property
Not mixed

Structure Fire–3
Deaths Injuries 10 Assembly use
Fire 1 Natural gas: slow leak, no evacuation or HazMat actions
20 Education use
Civilian Fire Cas.–4 Service 2 Propane gas: <21-lb tank (as in home BBQ grill) 33 Medical use
Fire Service Cas.–5 3 Gasoline: vehicle fuel tank or portable container 40 Residential use
Civilian 4 51 Row of stores
EMS–6 Kerosene: fuel burning equipment or portable storage
5 53 Enclosed mall
HazMat–7 Detector Diesel fuel/fuel oil: vehicle fuel tank or portable storage
Wildland Fire–8
H2 Required for confined fires.
6 Household solvents: home/office spill, cleanup only
58
59
Business & residential
Office use
7 Motor oil: from engine or portable container 60 Industrial use
Apparatus–9 1 Detector alerted occupants 8 Paint: from paint cans totaling <55 gallons 63 Military use
Personnel–10 2 Detector did not alert them 0 65 Farm use
Other: special HazMat actions required or spill > 55 gal
Arson–11 U Unknown 00 Other mixed use
(Please complete the HazMat form.)

Property Use 341 Clinic, clinic-type infirmary 539 Household goods, sales, repairs
J Structures
None
342 Doctor/dentist office 571 Gas or service station
131 Church, place of worship 361 Prison or jail, not juvenile 579 Motor vehicle/boat sales/repairs
161 Restaurant or cafeteria 419 1- or 2-family dwelling 599 Business office
162 Bar/tavern or nightclub 429 Multifamily dwelling 615 Electric-generating plant
213 Elementary school, kindergarten 439 Rooming/boarding house 629 Laboratory/science laboratory
215 High school, junior high 449 Commercial hotel or motel 700 Manufacturing plant
241 College, adult education 459 Residential, board and care 819 Livestock/poultry storage (barn)
311 Nursing home 464 Dormitory/barracks 882 Non-residential parking garage
331 Hospital 519 Food and beverage sales 891 Warehouse
Outside 936 Vacant lot 981 Construction site
124 Playground or park 938 Graded/cared for plot of land 984 Industrial plant yard
655 Crops or orchard 946 Lake, river, stream
Look up and enter a
669 Forest (timberland) 951 Railroad right-of-way Property Use code and Property Use
807 Outdoor storage area 960 Other street description only if you Code
have NOT checked a
919 Dump or sanitary landfill 961 Highway/divided highway Property Use box.
Property Use Description
931 Open land or field 962 Residential street/driveway
NFIRS–1 Revision 01/01/05

The denotes a required field. 3–2 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 Person/Entity Involved
K1 Local Option
Business Name (if applicable) Area Code Phone Number

Check this box if same

address as incident
Mr., Ms., Mrs. First Name MI Last Name Suffix
Location (Section B).
Then skip the three
duplicate address
lines. Number Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Post Office Box Apt./Suite/Room City

State ZIP Code

More people involved? Check this box and attach Supplemental Forms (NFIRS–1S) as necessary.

Same as person involved?

Owner
K2 Then check this box and skip
the rest of this block.
Local Option Business Name (if applicable) Area Code Phone Number

Check this box if same

address as incident
Location (Section B). Mr., Ms., Mrs. First Name MI Last Name Suffix
Then skip the three
duplicate address
lines.
Number Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Post Office Box Apt./Suite/Room City

State ZIP Code

Remarks:
L
Local Option

Fire Module Required?

Check the box that applies and then complete the Fire Module
based on Incident Type, as follows:

Buildings 111 Complete Fire & Structure Modules

Special structure 112 Complete Fire Module &
Section I, Structure Module
Confined 113–118 Basic Module Only
Mobile property 120–123 Complete Fire & Structure Modules
Vehicle 130–138 Complete Fire Module
Vegetation 140–143 Complete Fire or Wildland Module
Outside rubbish fire 150–155 Basic Module Only
Special outside fire 160 Complete Fire or Wildland Module
Special outside fire 161–163 Complete Fire Module
Crop fire 170–173 Complete Fire or Wildland Module
ITEMS WITH A MUST ALWAYS BE COMPLETED!

More remarks? Check this box and attach Supplemental Forms (NFIRS–1S) as necessary.

Authorization
M
Check box if Officer in charge ID Signature Position or rank Assignment Month Day Year
same as
Officer in
charge.
Member making report ID Signature Position or rank Assignment Month Day Year

The denotes a required field. 3–3 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A Basic Module - A

CHAPTER 3

BASIC MODULE (NFIRS–1)

he purpose of the Basic Module is to collect information common to all incidents. The Basic
T Module is required for every type of incident to which a department responds.

Entries in the Basic Module determine what other modules need to be completed based on the
type of incident involved. For example, fire incidents are also reported on the Fire Module
(NFIRS–2). Additionally, the Structure Fire Module (NFIRS–3) is required if the fire reported in
the Fire Module occurs in a structure.

A separate Civilian Fire Casualty Module (NFIRS–4) is required for each civilian who is injured
as a direct result of a fire incident. A separate Fire Service Casualty Module (NFIRS–5) is
required for each firefighter who is injured in response to an alarm whether or not a fire was
involved.

Optional modules include the EMS, HazMat, Wildland Fire, Apparatus and Personnel, and Arson
Modules. The type of incident reported or the nature of a particular incident, such as the release of
hazardous materials at a fire after the arrival of the fire department, may trigger one or more of
these additional modules. The amount of information needed in each module varies based on the
type of incident, associated casualties, and property losses.

SECTION A A

The field elements in Section A that are marked with a star ( ) are required to be completed.
Combined, these fields (FDIC, State, Incident Date, Incident Number, and Exposure) uniquely
identify each incident.

A Fire Department Identification (FDID)

Definition
A unique five-character identifier assigned by the state to identify a particular fire department
within the state. This identifier may also identify the county, fire district, or other jurisdiction
in which the fire department is located. Many states use the two left-most digits to identify the
particular department within a jurisdiction. All five spaces in this field must be occupied by
numerals or alphanumeric characters. If the FDID is less than five characters, use leading
zeros.

Purpose
The FDID number is used to identify incident data that have been collected and reported by
individual departments. Feedback on local or regional incident experience can then be pre-
pared and sent to individual agencies or specific fire departments.

The denotes a required field. 3–4 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A Basic Module - A

Entry
Enter the state-assigned FDID.

Example
An FDID of 07434 is entered as:
MM DD YYYY
Delete
0 7 4 3 4 Change
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure
No Activity

State
Definition
The state (or U.S. territory) where the fire department is located.

Purpose
This field provides an additional means of identifying a fire department, and in conjunction
with other required Section A fields, uniquely identifies each incident.

Entry
Enter the two-digit alphabetic abbreviation from the following list for the state where the fire
department is located:

STATE/U.S. TERRITORY CODES

AL Alabama KY Kentucky ND North Dakota
AK Alaska LA Louisiana OH Ohio
AZ Arizona ME Maine OK Oklahoma
AR Arkansas MD Maryland OR Oregon
CA California MA Massachusetts PA Pennsylvania
CO Colorado MI Michigan RI Rhode Island
CT Connecticut MN Minnesota SC South Carolina
DE Delaware MS Mississippi SD South Dakota
DC District of Columbia MO Missouri TN Tennessee
FL Florida MT Montana TX Texas
GA Georgia NE Nebraska UT Utah
HI Hawaii NV Nevada VT Vermont
ID Idaho NH New Hampshire VA Virginia
IL Illinois NJ New Jersey WA Washington
IN Indiana NY New Mexico WV West Virginia
IA Iowa NY New York WI Wisconsin
KS Kansas NC North Carolina WY Wyoming
U.S. Territories/Possessions
AS American Samoa GU Guam UM U.S. Minor Outlying
CZ Canal Zone MH Marshall Islands Islands
DD Department of Defense MP Northern Mariana Islands VI Virgin Islands
FM Federated States of PW Palau OO Other
Micronesia PR Puerto Rico

The denotes a required field. 3–5 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A Basic Module - A

Example
Virginia is entered as VA:
MM DD YYYY
Delete
0 7 4 3 4 V A Change
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure
No Activity

Incident Date
Definition
The month, day, and year of the incident. This date is when the alarm was received by the fire
department and must be the same as the date for the alarm time.

Purpose
In conjunction with other required Section A fields, this element uniquely identifies each
incident.

Entry
Enter the month, day, and year (mm/dd/yyyy) that the initial incident alarm was received by
the department. It must be entered for each incident.

. The Incident Date is the same as the Alarm date (Block E1), except if the incident is an
exposure and the exposure occurs on a subsequent day.

Example
An incident occurs and is reported on December 12, 2001:
MM DD YYYY
Delete
0 7 4 3 4 V A 1 2 1 2 2 0 0 1 Change
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure
No Activity

Station
Definition
The number or identifier of a particular fire station within a fire department. This is a local
option.

Purpose
The station number provides a means of tracking incident data that have been collected and
reported by individual stations. Specific feedback on incident experience can then be prepared
and sent to individual stations. The station number is also useful for analyzing different levels
of activity within a fire department.

Entry
Enter the station number in the space provided. The fire department should determine which
station number should be entered (e.g., first arriving unit, station’s area). The station number
is left justified. Leave blank if there is only one station in the department.

The denotes a required field. 3–6 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A Basic Module - A

Example
Station 13 is entered as:
MM DD YYYY
Delete
0 7 4 3 4 V A 1 2 1 2 2 0 0 1 A 3 Change
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure
No Activity

Incident Number
Definition
A unique number assigned to an incident.

. The Incident Number is a sequential number and is numeric only; it is not an incident
identification number.

Purpose
In conjunction with other required Section A fields, this element uniquely identifies each
incident.

Entry
Enter the number assigned to the incident. The number may be assigned at the local, county,
or district level, depending on policies. It may be necessary to obtain this number from an
alarm or dispatch center. It must be unique for each incident on a given day.

Example
A call with an incident number of 72672 is entered as:
MM DD YYYY
Delete
0 7 4 3 4 V A 1 2 1 2 2 0 0 1 A 3 7 2 6 7 2 Change
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure
No Activity

Exposure Number
Definition
Exposure is defined as a fire resulting from another fire outside that building, structure, or
vehicle, or a fire that extends to an outside property from a building, structure, or vehicle. For
example, if the building fire ignites a truck parked outside, the truck fire is an exposure fire.

. In the case of buildings with internal fire separations, treat the fire spread from one sepa-
ration to another as an exposure. Treating multiple ownership of property within a build-
ing (e.g., condominiums) as exposures, unless separated by fire-rated compartments, is
discouraged.

Purpose
Although the Incident Number permits all properties involved in a fire incident to be related
together, the Exposure number identifies each separate property type involved in the fire. This
makes it possible to capture the specific details of the fire in each exposure and to relate all

The denotes a required field. 3–7 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A Basic Module - A

the exposures to the basic incident, if necessary. The Exposure Number, in conjunction with
other required Section A fields, uniquely identifies each incident itemized in Section C.

When a fire involves more than one building, each building fire should be considered a sepa-
rate fire, with the ignition for all but the original building fire classified as exposure fires.

Entry
In a fire involving exposures, an additional Basic Module should be completed for each expo-
sure. Each module completed for an exposure should contain the same Incident Number
assigned to the original property involved. A separate sequential Exposure number is assigned
to each exposure. The original incident is always coded “000,” and exposures are numbered
sequentially and incremented by 1 beginning with “001.” The three-character numeric field is
zero filled, not right justified.

. The Incident Date for each exposure remains the same as that of the basic incident; how-
ever, the Alarm Time in Block E1 should reflect the time of each new exposure.

The relevant data for each exposure should then be recorded using the appropriate modules.

. Treat similar items in a group as a single exposure (such as a fleet of cars).

. Be sure to check or mark the exposure fire check box Cause of Ignition (Block E1) on the
Fire Module for each exposure fire, and then skip to Section G on the Fire Module.

Example
The first exposure fire is entered as 001:
MM DD YYYY
Delete
0 7 4 3 4 V A 1 2 1 2 2 0 0 1 A 3 7 2 6 7 2 0 0 1 Change
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure
No Activity

Delete/Change/No Activity
When filling out the Basic Module for a new incident, leave the Delete/Change/No Activity
boxes blank.

Definition
Indicates a change to information submitted on a previous Basic Module, signifies the dele-
tion of incorrect information, or reports no activity. The officer who signed the original Basic
Module report should authorize changes or deletions.

Purpose
These boxes indicate whether previously provided information is to be changed or deleted or
to report that no activity occurred during a reporting period.

The denotes a required field. 3–8 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A Basic Module - A

Entry
Delete: Check or mark this box when you have previously submitted data on this incident and
now want to have the data on this incident deleted from the database. If this box is marked,
complete Section A and leave the rest of the report blank. This will delete all data regarding
the incident. Forward the report according to your normally established procedures.

Change: Check or mark this box only if you previously submitted this fire incident to your
state reporting authority and now want to update or change the information in the state data-
base. Complete Section A and any other sections or blocks that need to be updated or cor-
rected. If you need to blank a field that contains data, you must resubmit the original module
containing the newly blanked field along with all the other original information in the module
for that incident. This action is required only when sending an updated module to your state
reporting authority. Forward the report according to your normally established procedures.

No Activity: If the fire department has had no incidents during the month, a no activity report
should be submitted. Unless otherwise specified by the state, this report should be submitted
monthly according to your normally established procedures.

Examples
Deleting a previously submitted incident:
Check or mark the Delete box and complete all other fields in Section A exactly as they were
entered in the original report.

Changing a previously submitted incident:

It was incorrectly reported that six firefighters responded to a fire incident. Later, the officer
in charge corrected the information and sent in a Change report with four fire service person-
nel responding:
MM DD YYYY
Delete
0 7 4 3 4 V A 1 2 1 2 2 0 0 1 A 3 7 2 6 7 2 0 0 1 Change
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure
No Activity

The Change box is checked or marked and Block G1 would look like the following example:
Resources
G1
Check this box and skip this block if an
Apparatus or Personnel Module is used.

Apparatus Personnel
Suppression 4

EMS
Other
Check box if resource counts include aid
received resources.

Submitting a report of No Activity:

Check or mark the No Activity box and fill both the Incident Number and the Exposure fields
with zeros. The Incident Date fields correspond to the last day of the month of no activity:

The denotes a required field. 3–9 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Basic Module - B

MM DD YYYY
Delete
0 7 4 3 4 V A 0 6 3 0 2 0 0 3 A 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Change
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure
No Activity

SECTION B B

Section B collects information on the specific incident location.

. The check box at the top of the section should be checked or marked only if the incident
address is provided on the Wildland Fire Module (NFIRS–8). The Wildland Fire Module
provides an alternative method of recording the incident location.

B Location Type
The location of the incident, which may be a street address, directions from a recognized
landmark, or an intersection of two roadways.

Purpose
The exact location of the incident is used for spatial analyses and response planning that can
be linked to demographic data. Incident address information is required at the local govern-
ment level to establish an official document of record.

Entry
Check or mark the single box that best indicates the address type that will be entered. If the
incident is a wildland fire, the alternate address box at the top of Section B may be checked or
marked to indicate that the wildland location scheme is provided in the Wildland Fire
module.

Street Address: A normal street address. Check or mark this box and complete the address
fields.

Intersection: There is no street address. The incident location is at the intersection of two
or more streets, roads, etc. Check or mark this box and enter the first street in the Street or
Highway field. The intersecting street(s) is entered in the Cross Street or Directions field.

In Front Of: No street address is available. However, the incident location is in front of an
area with a street address. Check or mark this box and complete the address fields. An
example of this might be a park, plaza, or common area in front of a building with a street
address.

Rear Of: No street address is available. However, the incident location is in the rear of an
area with a street address. Check or mark this box and complete the address fields. An
example of this might be an alley that runs behind a building with a street address.

The denotes a required field. 3–10 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Basic Module - B

Adjacent To: No street address is available. However, the incident location is adjacent to
an area with a street address. Check or mark this box and complete the address fields. An
example of this might be an empty lot or common area that is next to a building with a
street address.

Directions: No street address is available and no street address is available near the inci-
dent scene. Check or mark this box and enter brief directions for the location of the inci-
dent in the Cross Street or Directions field. If the area is along an interstate or state
highway, the closest milepost should be entered in the Number/Milepost address field. An
example of this might be a brush fire that occurs in a remote area or a fire that occurs on or
near an interstate highway.

United States National Grid: Provides a geospatial address based on universally defined
coordinate and grid systems and a common frame of reference across multiple jurisdic-
tions easily extended world-wide. Using an alpha-numeric reference that overlays the
UTM (q.v.) coordinate system, USNG spatial addresses break down into three parts: Grid
Zone Designation, for a world-wide unique address; 100,000-meter Square Identification,
for regional areas; Grid Coordinates, for local areas. USNG improves interoperability of
location appliances with printed maps through a consistent and preferred geospatial grid
reference system. Relates to GPS (q.v.). Contributed by Tom May. (International). For
more information and examples on use, see: http://www.xyproject.org/
How%20To%20Read%20USNGHow%20to%20read%20USNG.htm

Example
The location of an incident that occurred at the intersection of Gallows Road and Lee High-
way is entered as:
Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract -
Street address
Gallows R D
X Intersection
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Rear of
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
Directions Lee Highway
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

LOCATION TYPE CODES

1 Street address.
2 Intersection.
3 In front of.
4 Rear of.
5 Adjacent to.
6 Directions.
7 U. S. National Grid.

The denotes a required field. 3–11 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Basic Module - B

Census Tract
Definition
The census tract number is a six-digit number assigned by the U.S. Census Bureau that identi-
fies an area of land within the United States. Not all jurisdictions have census tract numbers.

Purpose
This element provides a means to cross-reference geographic and population information that
is available from the U.S. Census Bureau to incident data for comparative analysis.

Entry
Enter the census tract number for the property involved in the incident. The right two spaces
are always assumed to follow a decimal point. If the incident occurs in an area where a census
tract number has not been assigned, leave blank.

. Local planning commissions or zoning commissions may be able to provide census tract
numbers or maps for your response area.

Example
A location having a census tract number of 1066.01 is entered as:
Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract 1 0 6 6 - 0 1
Street address
Gallows R D
X Intersection
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Rear of
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
Directions Lee Highway
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

Number/Milepost
Definition
The number or milepost of the specific location where the incident occurred.

Purpose
This field further refines the incident address.

Entry
For structures and lots, enter the street number. For highways, railroads, etc., enter the mile-
post number. For intersections, leave blank. For block addresses, enter the block number. The
maximum number of characters available in the Number/Milepost field is 8.

The denotes a required field. 3–12 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Basic Module - B

Example
The incident occurred at 8034 Alta Vista Drive:
Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract -
X Street address
Intersection 8034 Alta Vista D R
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Rear of
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
Directions
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

Street Prefix
Definition
The directional descriptor appearing before a street or highway name.

Purpose
This field further refines the incident address.

Entry
Enter the street prefix abbreviation. Leave blank if not applicable

Example
A vehicle fire in front of 1257 East Connecticut Avenue is entered as:
Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract -
Street address
Intersection 1257 E Connecticut A V E
Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix
X In front of
Rear of
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
Directions
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

STREET PREFIX CODES

E East. NE Northeast.
N North. NW Northwest.
S South. SE Southeast.
W West. SW Southwest.

Street or Highway Name

Definition
The street or highway name where the incident occurred.

Purpose
This field further refines the incident address. This information can also be useful for identify-
ing local problems, such as checking for multiple incidents at the same address and checking
ZIP codes or Census Tract entries.

The denotes a required field. 3–13 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Basic Module - B

Entry
Enter the name of the street or highway name in the space provided. The maximum number of
characters available in the Street or Highway field is 30.

. If the involved property is a motor vehicle, boat, or other property in transit, list the near-
est address or describe the location where the incident occurred. If necessary, include a
sketch in the Remarks section (L). It is important that a person viewing the report know
where the incident occurred.

. If a street type is not listed on the code list on the following page (see “Street Type”
below), enter the street type as part of the Street or Highway name.

Example
A grass fire on Wolftrap Road about 1/2 mile east of I–66:
Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract -
Street address
Intersection Wolftrap R D
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Rear of
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
X Directions 1/2 mile east of I-66
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

Street Type
Definition
The street type descriptor appearing after a street or highway name.

Purpose
This field further refines the incident address.

Entry
Enter the appropriate Street Type code (established by the U.S. Postal Service) from the list
on the following page. If the street type is not listed, enter the street type as part of the Street
or Highway name. (See Street or Highway Name above.)

Example
The accident occurred on Walnut Street:
Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract -
X Street address
Intersection 1122 Walnut S T
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Rear of
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
Directions
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

The denotes a required field. 3–14 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Basic Module - B

STREET TYPE CODES

ALY Alley FLDS Fields MLS Mills
ANX Annex FLT Flat MSN Mission
ARC Arcade FLTS Flats MTWY Motorway
AVE Avenue FRD Ford MT Mount
BCH Beach FRDS Fords MTN Mountain
BND Bend FRST Forest MTNS Mountains
BLF Bluff FRG Forge NCK Neck
BLFS Bluffs FRGS Forges ORCH Orchard
BTM Bottom FRK Fork OVAL Oval
BLVD Boulevard FRKS Forks PARK Park
BR Branch FT Fort PKY Parkway
BRG Bridge FWY Freeway PKYS Parkways
BRK Brook GDN Garden PASS Pass
BRKS Brooks GDNS Gardens PSGE Passage
BG Burg GTWY Gateway PATH Path
BGS Burgs GLN Glen PIKE Pike
BYP Bypass GLNS Glens PNE Pine
CP Camp GRN Green PNES Pines
CYN Canyon GRNS Greens PL Place
CPE Cape GRV Grove PLZ Plaza
CSWY Causeway GRVS Groves PT Point
CTR Center HBR Harbor PTS Points
CTRS Centers HBRS Harbors PRT Port
CIR Circle HVN Haven PRTS Ports
CIRS Circles HTS Heights PR Prairie
CLF Cliff HWY Highway RADL Radial
CLFS Cliffs HL Hill RAMP Ramp
CLB Club HLS Hills RNCH Ranch
CMN Common HOLW Hollow RPD Rapid
CMNS Commons INLT Inlet RPDS Rapids
COR Corner IS Island RST Rest
CORS Corners ISS Islands RDG Ridge
CT Court ISLE Isle RDGS Ridges
CTS Courts JCT Junction RIV River
CV Cove JCTS Junctions RD Road
CVS Coves KY Key RDS Roads
CRK Creek KYS Keys RT Route
CRES Crescent KNL Knoll ROW Row
CRST Crest KNLS Knolls RUE Rue
XING Crossing LK Lake RUN Run
XRD Crossroad LKS Lakes SHL Shoal
XRDS Crossroads LNDG Landing SHLS Shoals
CURV Curve LN Lane SHR Shore
DL Dale LGT Light SHRS Shores
DM Dam LGTS Lights SKWY Skyway
DV Divide LF Loaf SPG Spring
DR Drive LCK Lock SPGS Springs
DRS Drives LCKS Locks SPUR Spur
EST Estate LDG Lodge SPRS Spurs
ESTS Estates LOOP Loop SQ Square
EXPY Expressway MALL Mall SQS Squares
EXT Extension MNR Manor STA Station
EXTS Extensions MNRS Manors STRA Stravenue
FALL Fall MDW Meadow STRM Stream
FLS Falls MDWS Meadows ST Street
FRY Ferry MEWS Mews STS Streets
FLD Field ML Mill SMT Summit

The denotes a required field. 3–15 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Basic Module - B

TER Terrace UPAS Underpass VLGS Villages

TRWY Throughway UN Union VL Ville
TRCE Trace UNS Unions VIS Vista
TRAK Track VLY Valley WALK Walk
TRFY Trafficway VLYS Valleys WALK Walks
TRL Trail VIA Viaduct WALL Wall
TRLR Trailer VW View WAY Way
TUNL Tunnel VWS Views WL Well
TPKE Turnpike VLG Village WLS Wells

Street Suffix
Definition
The directional descriptor appearing after a street or highway name.

Purpose
This field further refines the incident address.

Entry
Enter the street suffix abbreviation. Leave blank if not applicable.

Example
A grass fire in the rear of 3827 Georgia Avenue East is entered as:
Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract -
Street address
Intersection 3827 Georgia A V E E
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

X Rear of
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
Directions
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

STREET SUFFIX CODES

E East. NE Northeast.
N North. NW Northwest.
S South. SE Southeast.
W West. SW Southwest.

Apartment, Suite, or Room

Definition
The number of the specific apartment, suite, or room where the incident occurred.

Purpose
This field further refines the incident address. This number is part of the address information
when the incident occurs within an apartment, suite, or identifiable room or area generally
rented or leased.

The denotes a required field. 3–16 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Basic Module - B

Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract -
X Street address
Intersection 3827 Georgia A V E E
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Rear of 8-C
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
Directions
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

Entry
Enter the apartment, suite, or room number in the space provided (any combination of
numbers and letters). Leave blank if not applicable. The maximum number of characters
available in the Apartment, Suite, or Room field is 15.

Example
The incident occurred in apartment 8–C:

City
Definition
The city where the incident occurred. If the incident occurred in an unincorporated area, use
the city found in the mailing address for the incident location.

Purpose
This field further refines the incident address.

Entry
Enter the city where the incident occurred, or the city used in the mailing address for the
incident location. The maximum number of characters available in the City field is 20.

Example
The incident occurred in the city of Hickory:
Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract -
X Street address
Intersection 1482 Center D R
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Rear of Hickory
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
Directions
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

State
Definition
The state where the incident occurred.

Purpose
This field further refines the incident address, and it provides a means of linking incident data
to other geographic and population factors for comparative analysis at the state level.

The denotes a required field. 3–17 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Basic Module - B

Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract -
X Street address
Intersection 1482 Center D R
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Rear of Hickory N C
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
Directions
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

Entry
Enter the alphabetic abbreviation for the state (see page 3–5) where the incident occurred.

Example
North Carolina is entered as NC:

ZIP Code
Definition
The numerical code assigned by the U.S. Postal Service to all U.S. jurisdictions.

Purpose
This field completes the information for identifying the exact incident address, and it provides
a means of linking fire incident data to other geographic and population factors for compara-
tive analysis at the local and regional levels.

Entry
Enter the postal ZIP code number for the address of the property involved in the incident. If
the last four digits are unknown, leave that field blank.

Example
A house fire occurs in an area with the ZIP code 28602–1109:
Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract -
X Street address
Intersection 1482 Center D R
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Rear of Hickory N C 2 8 6 0 2 1 1 0 9
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
Directions
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

Cross Street, Directions or U. S. National Grid

Use directions only if the location cannot otherwise be identified. Enter USNG coordinates if
U. S. National Grid is selected for Location Type.

Definition
The nearest cross street to the incident address or directions from a recognized landmark or
the second street name of an intersection if Directions is selected as the Location Type. If U.S.
National Grid is selected as the Location Type, enter the USNG address (a geospatial address
based on universally defined coordinate and grid systems and a common frame of reference
across multiple jurisdictions easily extended world-wide). Using an alpha-numeric reference

The denotes a required field. 3–18 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Basic Module - C

that overlays the UTM (q.v.) coordinate system, USNG spatial addresses break down into
three parts: Grid Zone Designation, for a world-wide unique address; 100,000-meter Square
Identification, for regional areas; Grid Coordinates, for local areas.

Purpose
This element helps determine the exact location of the incident. This information may also be
useful for identifying local problems, such as checking for multiple incidents at the same
location.

Entry
In the space provided, describe the nearest cross street or provide directions from a
recognized landmark. The maximum number of characters available in the Cross Street or
Directions field is 30. If U. S. National Grid is selected as the Location type, the USNG coor-
dinates of the incident location is entered using 10 digit precision at a minimum. The maxi-
mum entry is 15 characters. Note: USNG may also be used to precisely descibe the location of
a Wildland Fire incident instead of Longitude/Latitude coordinates or Township Ranges

Example
The incident occurred on 10th Street with N Street being the nearest cross street:
Check this box to indicate that the address for this incident is provided on the Wildland Fire
B Location Type Module in Section B, "Alternative Location Specification." Use only for wildland fires. Census Tract -
Street address
Intersection 10th S T
In front of Number/Milepost Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

Rear of
Adjacent to Apt./Suite/Room City State ZIP Code
X Directions N Street
US National Grid Cross Street, Directions or National Grid, as applicable

SECTION C C

C Incident Type
. Incident Type was known as Type of Situation Found in NFIRS 4.1.

Definition
This is the actual situation that emergency personnel found on the scene when they arrived.
These codes include the entire spectrum of fire department activities from fires to EMS to
public service.

. The type of incident reported here is not always the same as the incident type initially
dispatched.

Purpose
This critical information identifies the various types of incidents to which the fire department
responds and allows the fire department to document the full range of incidents it handles.

The denotes a required field. 3–19 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Basic Module - C

This information can be used to analyze the frequency of different types of incidents, provide
insight on fire and other incident problems, and identify training needs.

. This element determines which modules will subsequently be completed.

Entry
Enter the three-digit code and a written description that best describes the type of incident.
This entry is generally the type of incident found when emergency personnel arrived at the
scene, but if a more serious condition developed after the fire department arrival on the scene,
then that incident type should be reported. The codes are organized in a series:

Series Heading
100 Fire
200 Overpressure Rupture, Explosion, Overheat (No Ensuing Fire)
300 Rescue and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Incidents
400 Hazardous Condition (No Fire)
500 Service Call
600 Good Intent Call
700 False Alarm and False Call
800 Severe Weather and Natural Disaster
900 Special Incident Type

. For incidents involving fire and hazardous materials or fire and EMS, use the fire codes.
Always use the lowest numbered series that applies to the incident. You will have an
opportunity to describe multiple actions taken later in the report.

. For vehicle fires on a structure, use the mobile property fire codes (130–138) unless the
structure became involved.

. For fires in buildings that are confined to noncombustible containers, use codes 113–118
of the structure fire codes when there is no flame damage beyond the noncombustible
container.

Example
Fire in food on the stove that was confined to the pot (113):
C Incident Type
1 1 3 Food on the stove
Incident Type

The denotes a required field. 3–20 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Basic Module - C

INCIDENT TYPE CODES

Fire. Includes fires out on arrival and gas vapor explosions (with extremely rapid
combustion).
Structure fire
111 Building fire. Excludes confined fires (113–118).
112 Fire in structure, other than in a building. Included are fires on or in piers,
quays, or pilings: tunnels or underground connecting structures; bridges,
trestles, or overhead elevated structures; transformers, power or utility
vaults or equipment; fences; and tents.
113 Cooking fire involving the contents of a cooking vessel without fire
extension beyond the vessel.
114 Chimney or flue fire originating in and confined to a chimney or flue.
Excludes fires that extend beyond the chimney (111 or 112).
115 Incinerator overload or malfunction, but flames cause no damage outside
the incinerator.
116 Fuel burner/boiler, delayed ignition or malfunction, where flames cause no
damage outside the fire box.
117 Commercial compactor fire, confined to contents of compactor. Excluded
are home trash compactors.
118 Trash or rubbish fire in a structure, with no flame damage to structure or its
contents.
Fire in mobile property used as a fixed structure. Includes mobile homes, motor
homes, camping trailers.
121 Fire in mobile home used as a fixed residence. Includes mobile homes
when not in transit and used as a structure for residential purposes; and
manufactured homes built on a permanent chassis.
122 Fire in a motor home, camper, or recreational vehicle when used as a
structure. Includes motor homes when not in transit and used as a
structure for residential purposes.
123 Fire in a portable building, when used at a fixed location. Includes portable
buildings used for commerce, industry, or education and trailers used for
commercial purposes.
120 Fire in mobile property used as a fixed structure, other.
Mobile property (vehicle) fire. Excludes mobile properties used as a structure (120
series). If a vehicle fire occurs on a bridge and does not damage the bridge, it should
be classified as a vehicle fire.
131 Passenger vehicle fire. Includes any motorized passenger vehicle, other
than a motor home (136) (e.g., pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, buses).
132 Road freight or transport vehicle fire. Includes commercial freight hauling
vehicles and contractor vans or trucks. Examples are moving trucks,
plumber vans, and delivery trucks.
133 Rail vehicle fire. Includes all rail cars, including intermodal containers and
passenger cars that are mounted on a rail car.
134 Water vehicle fire. Includes boats, barges, hovercraft, and all other
vehicles designed for navigation on water.
135 Aircraft fire. Includes fires originating in or on an aircraft, regardless of use.
136 Self-propelled motor home or recreational vehicle. Includes only self-
propelled motor homes or recreational vehicles when being used in a
transport mode. Excludes those used for normal residential use (122).
137 Camper or recreational vehicle (RV) fire, not self-propelled. Includes
trailers. Excludes RVs on blocks or used regularly as a fixed building (122)
and the vehicle towing the camper or RV or the campers mounted on
pickups (131).

The denotes a required field. 3–21 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Basic Module - C

138 Off-road vehicle or heavy equipment fire. Includes dirt bikes, specialty off-
road vehicles, earth-moving equipment (bulldozers), and farm equipment.
130 Mobile property (vehicle) fire, other.
Natural vegetation fire. Excludes crops or plants under cultivation (see 170 series).
141 Forest, woods, or wildland fire. Includes fires involving vegetative fuels,
other than prescribed fire (632), that occur in an area in which
development is essentially nonexistent, except for roads, railroads, power
lines, and the like. Also includes forests managed for lumber production
and fires involving elevated fuels such as tree branches and crowns.
Excludes areas in cultivation for agricultural purposes such as tree farms
or crops (17x series).
142 Brush or brush-and-grass mixture fire. Includes ground fuels lying on or
immediately above the ground such as duff, roots, dead leaves, fine dead
wood, and downed logs.
143 Grass fire. Includes fire confined to area characterized by grass ground
cover, with little or no involvement of other ground fuels; otherwise, see
142.
140 Natural vegetation fire, other.
Outside rubbish fire. Includes all rubbish fires outside a structure or vehicle.
151 Outside rubbish, trash, or waste fire not included in 152–155. Excludes
outside rubbish fires in a container or receptacle (154).
152 Garbage dump or sanitary landfill fire.
153 Construction or demolition landfill fire.
154 Dumpster or other outside trash receptacle fire. Includes waste material
from manufacturing or other production processes. Excludes materials that
are not rubbish or have salvage value (161 or 162).
155 Outside stationary compactor or compacted trash fire. Includes fires where
the only material burning is rubbish. Excludes fires where the compactor is
damaged (162).
150 Outside rubbish fire, other.
Special outside fire. Includes outside fires with definable value. Excludes crops and
orchards (170 series).
161 Outside storage fire on residential or commercial/industrial property, not
rubbish. Includes recyclable materials at dropoff points.
162 Outside equipment fire. Includes outside trash compactors, outside HVAC
units, and irrigation pumps. Excludes special structures (110 series) and
mobile construction equipment (130 series).
163 Outside gas or vapor combustion explosion without sustained fire.
164 Outside mailbox fire. Includes dropoff boxes for delivery services.
160 Special outside fire, other.
Cultivated vegetation, crop fire
171 Cultivated grain or crop fire. Includes fires involving corn, wheat,
soybeans, rice, and other plants before harvest.
172 Cultivated orchard or vineyard fire.
173 Cultivated trees or nursery stock fire. Includes fires involving Christmas
tree farms and plants under cultivation for transport off-site for ornamental
use.
170 Cultivated vegetation, crop fire, other.
Fire, other
100 Fire, other.

Overpressure Rupture, Explosion, Overheat (No Fire). Excludes steam

mistaken for smoke.
Overpressure rupture from steam (no ensuing fire)
211 Overpressure rupture of steam pipe or pipeline.
212 Overpressure rupture of steam boiler.

The denotes a required field. 3–22 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Basic Module - C

213 Overpressure rupture of pressure or process vessel from steam.

210 Overpressure rupture from steam, other.
Overpressure rupture from air or gas (no ensuing fire). Excludes steam or water vapor.
221 Overpressure rupture of air or gas pipe or pipeline.
222 Overpressure rupture of boiler from air or gas. Excludes steam-related
overpressure ruptures.
223 Overpressure rupture of pressure or process vessel from air or gas, not
steam.
220 Overpressure rupture from air or gas, other.
Overpressure rupture from chemical reaction (no ensuing fire)
231 Overpressure rupture of pressure or process vessel from a chemical
reaction.
Explosion (no fire)
241 Munitions or bomb explosion (no fire). Includes explosions involving
military ordnance, dynamite, nitroglycerin, plastic explosives, propellants,
and similar agents with a UN classification 1.1 or 1.3. Includes primary and
secondary high explosives.
242 Blasting agent explosion (no fire). Includes ammonium nitrate and fuel oil
(ANFO) mixtures and explosives with a UN Classification 1.5 (also known
as blasting agents).
243 Fireworks explosion (no fire). Includes all classes of fireworks.
240 Explosion (no fire), other.
Excessive heat, scorch burns with no ignition
251 Excessive heat, overheat scorch burns with no ignition. Excludes lightning
strikes with no ensuing fire (814).
Overpressure rupture, explosion, overheat, other
200 Overpressure rupture, explosion, overheat, other.

Rescue and Emergency Medical Service Incident

Medical assist
311 Medical assist. Includes incidents where medical assistance is provided to
another group/agency that has primary EMS responsibility. (Example,
providing assistance to another agency-assisting EMS with moving a
heavy patient.)
Emergency medical service incident
321 EMS call. Includes calls when the patient refuses treatment. Excludes
vehicle accident with injury (322) and pedestrian struck (323).
322 Motor vehicle accident with injuries. Includes collision with other vehicle,
fixed objects, or loss of control resulting in leaving the roadway.
323 Motor vehicle/pedestrian accident (MV Ped). Includes any motor vehicle
accident involving a pedestrian injury.
324 Motor vehicle accident with no injuries.
Lock-In
331 Lock-in. Includes opening locked vehicles and gaining entry to locked
areas for access by caretakers or rescuers, such as a child locked in a
bathroom. Excludes lock-outs (511).
Search for lost person
341 Search for person on land. Includes lost hikers and children, even where
there is an incidental search of local bodies of water, such as a creek or
river.
342 Search for person in water. Includes shoreline searches incidental to a
reported drowning call.
343 Search for person underground. Includes caves, mines, tunnels, and the
like.

The denotes a required field. 3–23 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Basic Module - C

340 Search for lost person, other.

Extrication, rescue
351 Extrication of victim(s) from building or structure, such as a building
collapse. Excludes high-angle rescue (356).
352 Extrication of victim(s) from vehicle. Includes rescues from vehicles
hanging off a bridge or cliff.
353 Removal of victim(s) from stalled elevator.
354 Trench/below-grade rescue.
355 Confined space rescue. Includes rescues from the interiors of tanks,
including areas with potential for hazardous atmospheres such as silos,
wells, and tunnels.
356 High-angle rescue. Includes rope rescue and rescues off of structures.
357 Extrication of victim(s) from machinery. Includes extrication from farm or
industrial equipment.
350 Extrication, rescue, other.
Water and ice-related rescue
361 Swimming/recreational water areas rescue. Includes pools and ponds.
Excludes ice rescue (362).
362 Ice rescue. Includes only cases where victim is stranded on ice or has
fallen through ice.
363 Swift-water rescue. Includes flash flood conditions.
364 Surf rescue.
365 Watercraft rescue. Excludes rescues near the shore and in swimming/
recreational areas (361). Includes people falling overboard at a significant
distance from land.
360 Water and ice-related rescue, other.
Electrical rescue
371 Electrocution or potential electrocution. Excludes people trapped by power
lines (372).
372 Trapped by power lines. Includes people trapped by downed or dangling
power lines or other energized electrical equipment.
370 Electrical rescue, other.
Rescue or EMS standby
381 Rescue or EMS standby for hazardous conditions. Excludes aircraft
standby (462).
Rescue, emergency medical service (EMS) incident, other
300 Rescue and EMS incident, other.

Hazardous Condition (No Fire)

Combustible/flammable spills and leaks
411 Gasoline or other flammable liquid spill (flash point below 100 degrees F at
standard temperature and pressure (Class I)).
412 Gas leak (natural gas or LPG). Excludes gas odors with no source found
(671).
413 Oil or other combustible liquid spill (flash point at or above 100 degrees F
at standard temperature and pressure (Class II or III)).
410 Combustible and flammable gas or liquid spills or leaks, other.
Chemical release, reaction, or toxic condition
421 Chemical hazard (no spill or leak). Includes the potential for spills or leaks.
422 Chemical spill or leak. Includes unstable, reactive, explosive material.
423 Refrigeration leak. Includes ammonia.
424 Carbon monoxide incident. Excludes incidents with nothing found (736 or
746).
420 Toxic chemical condition, other.

The denotes a required field. 3–24 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Basic Module - C

Radioactive condition
431 Radiation leak, radioactive material. Includes release of radiation due to
breaching of container or other accidental release.
430 Radioactive condition, other.
Electrical wiring/equipment problem
441 Heat from short circuit (wiring), defective or worn insulation.
442 Overheated motor or wiring.
443 Breakdown of light ballast.
444 Power line down. Excludes people trapped by downed power lines (372).
445 Arcing, shorted electrical equipment.
440 Electrical wiring/equipment problem, other.
Biological hazard
451 Biological hazard, confirmed or suspected.
Accident, potential accident
461 Building or structure weakened or collapsed. Excludes incidents where
people are trapped (351).
462 Aircraft standby. Includes routine standby for takeoff and landing as well as
emergency alerts at airports.
463 Vehicle accident, general cleanup. Includes incidents where FD is
dispatched after the accident to clear away debris. Excludes extrication
from vehicle (352) and flammable liquid spills (411 or 413).
460 Accident, potential accident, other.
Explosive, bomb removal
471 Explosive, bomb removal. Includes disarming, rendering safe, and
disposing of bombs or suspected devices. Excludes bomb scare (721).
Attempted burning, illegal action
481 Attempt to burn. Includes situations in which incendiary devices fail to
function.
482 Threat to burn. Includes verbal threats and persons threatening to set
themselves on fire. Excludes an attempted burning (481).
480 Attempted burning, illegal action, other.
Hazardous condition, other
400 Hazardous condition (no fire), other.

Service Call
Person in distress
511 Lock-out. Includes efforts to remove keys from locked vehicles. Excludes
lock-ins (331).
512 Ring or jewelry removal, without transport to hospital. Excludes persons
injured (321).
510 Person in distress, other.
Water problem
521 Water (not people) evacuation. Includes the removal of water from
basements. Excludes water rescues (360 series).
522 Water or steam leak. Includes open hydrant. Excludes overpressure ruptures (211).
520 Water problem, other.
Smoke, odor problem
531 Smoke or odor removal. Excludes the removal of any hazardous materials.
Animal problem or rescue
541 Animal problem. Includes persons trapped by an animal or an animal on
the loose.
542 Animal rescue.
540 Animal problem or rescue, other.

The denotes a required field. 3–25 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Basic Module - C

Public service assistance

551 Assist police or other governmental agency. Includes forcible entry and the
provision of lighting.
552 Police matter. Incudes incidents where FD is called to a scene that should
be handled by the police.
553 Public service. Excludes service to governmental agencies (551 or 552).
554 Assist invalid. Includes incidents where the invalid calls the FD for routine
help, such as assisting a person in returning to bed or chair, with no
transport or medical treatment given.
555 Defective elevator, no occupants.
550 Public service assistance, other.
Unauthorized burning
561 Unauthorized burning. Includes fires that are under control and not
endangering property.
Cover assignment, standby at fire station, move-up
571 Cover assignment, assist other fire agency such as standby at a fire
station or move-up.
Service call, other
500 Service call, other.

Good Intent Call

Dispatched and canceled en route
611 Dispatched and canceled en route. Incident cleared or canceled prior to
arrival of the responding unit. If a unit arrives on the scene, fill out the
applicable code.
Wrong location, no emergency found
621 Wrong location. Excludes malicious false alarms (710 series).
622 No incident found on arrival at dispatch address.
Controlled burning
631 Authorized controlled burning. Includes fires that are agricultural in nature
and managed by the property owner. Excludes unauthorized controlled
burning (561) and prescribed fires (632).
632 Prescribed fire. Includes fires ignited by management actions to meet
specific objectives and have a written, approved prescribed fire plan prior
to ignition. Excludes authorized controlled burning (631).
Vicinity alarm
641 Vicinity alarm (incident in other location). For use only when an erroneous
report is received for a legitimate incident. Includes separate locations
reported for an actual fire and multiple boxes pulled for one fire.
Steam, other gas mistaken for smoke
651 Smoke scare, odor of smoke, not steam (652). Excludes gas scares or
odors of gas (671).
652 Steam, vapor, fog, or dust thought to be smoke.
653 Smoke from barbecue or tar kettle (no hostile fire).
650 Steam, other gas mistaken for smoke, other.
EMS call where party has been transported
661 EMS call where injured party has been transported by a non-fire service
agency or left the scene prior to arrival.
HazMat release investigation w/no HazMat found
671 Hazardous material release investigation with no hazardous condition
found. Includes odor of gas with no leak/gas found.
672 Biological hazard investigation with no hazardous condition found.

The denotes a required field. 3–26 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Basic Module - C

Good intent call, other

600 Good intent call, other.

False Alarm and False Call

Malicious, mischievous false alarm
711 Municipal alarm system, malicious false alarm. Includes alarms
transmitted on street fire alarm boxes.
712 Direct tie to fire department, malicious false alarm. Includes malicious
alarms transmitted via fire alarm system directly tied to the fire department,
not via dialed telephone.
713 Telephone, malicious false alarm. Includes false alarms transmitted via the
public telephone network using the local emergency reporting number of
the fire department or another emergency service agency.
714 Central station, malicious false alarm. Includes malicious false alarms via a
central-station-monitored fire alarm system.
715 Local alarm system, malicious false alarm. Includes malicious false alarms
reported via telephone or other means as a result of activation of a local
fire alarm system.
710 Malicious, mischievous false alarm, other.
Bomb scare
721 Bomb scare (no bomb).
System or detector malfunction. Includes improper performance of fire alarm
system that is not a result of a proper system response to environmental stimuli such
as smoke or high heat conditions.
731 Sprinkler activated due to the failure or malfunction of the sprinkler system.
Includes any failure of sprinkler equipment that leads to sprinkler activation
with no fire present. Excludes unintentional operation caused by damage
to the sprinkler system (740 series).
732 Extinguishing system activation due to malfunction.
733 Smoke detector activation due to malfunction.
734 Heat detector activation due to malfunction.
735 Alarm system activation due to malfunction.
736 Carbon monoxide detector activation due to malfunction.
730 System or detector malfunction, other.
Unintentional system or detector operation (no fire). Includes tripping an interior
device accidentally.
741 Sprinkler activation (no fire), unintentional. Includes testing the sprinkler
system without fire department notification.
742 Extinguishing system activation. Includes testing the extinguishing system
without fire department notification.
743 Smoke detector activation (no fire), unintentional. Includes proper system
responses to environmental stimuli such as non-hostile smoke.
744 Detector activation (no fire), unintentional. A result of a proper system
response to environmental stimuli such as high heat conditions
745 Alarm system activation (no fire), unintentional.
746 Carbon monoxide detector activation (no carbon monoxide detected).
Excludes carbon monoxide detector malfunction.
740 Unintentional transmission of alarm, other.
Biohazard scare
751 Biological hazard, malicious false report.
False alarm and false call, other
700 False alarm or false call, other.

Severe Weather and Natural Disaster

811 Earthquake assessment, no rescue or other service rendered.

The denotes a required field. 3–27 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Basic Module - D

812 Flood assessment. Excludes water rescue (360 series).

813 Wind storm. Includes tornado, hurricane, or cyclone assessment. No other
service rendered.
814 Lightning strike (no fire). Includes investigation.
815 Severe weather or natural disaster standby.
800 Severe weather or natural disaster, other.

Special Incident Type

Citizen complaint
911 Citizen’s complaint. Includes reports of code or ordinance violation.
Special type of incident, other
900 Special type of incident, other.

SECTION D D

D Aid Given or Received

Definition
Aid given or received, either automatically (i.e., prearranged) or mutually for a specific inci-
dent. These actions are defined as:

Aid Received (automatic or mutual): A fire department handles an incident within its
jurisdiction with additional manpower or equipment from one or more fire departments
outside its jurisdiction. Aid received can be either mutual or automatic aid.

Aid Given (automatic or mutual): A fire department responds into another fire depart-
ment’s jurisdiction to provide assistance at an incident or to cover a vacated station while
the receiving fire department is busy at an incident. Aid received can be either mutual or
automatic aid.

Other Aid Given: A fire department covers and responds to another jurisdiction or locale
that has no fire department.

No Aid: A fire department handles an incident within its jurisdiction without help from
adjacent or outside fire departments.

Purpose
Aid information can be used to study response levels necessary to control various fire and
emergency situations. It can be used to determine the adequacy of resources at the local level
and the need for adjusting cooperative agreements. The Aid Given or Received entry serves
as data control to ensure that the same incident is not counted more than once while still giv-
ing credit for activity performed by outside departments.

Entry
Check or mark the box indicating whether aid was given or received. If no aid was given or
received, check or mark the None box.

The denotes a required field. 3–28 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Basic Module - D

. Unless otherwise stipulated, whenever the following instructions indicate completion of

the “Basic Module,” the appropriate supporting and optional modules must also be
completed.

Mutual/Automatic Aid Received: If either of these boxes is checked or marked, complete

the Basic Module.

Mutual/Automatic Aid Given: If your department provided mutual fill-in service only,
check or mark the appropriate aid-given box; complete Their FDID, Their State, and Their
Incident Number fields; enter the two-digit Actions Taken code (codes 90, 91, or 92 only)
in Section F; and complete Block G1 (Resources).

. No other information is required for the Basic Module unless a fire service casualty
occurs. In this case, you must also complete Block H1 (Casualties) and a Fire Ser-
vice Casualty Module.

Other Aid Given: Check or mark this box if your department covers and responds to
another jurisdiction or locale that has no fire department. Complete the Basic Module. In
Section D, leave the Their FDID and Their Incident Number fields blank; the Their State
field is optional.

None: Check or mark this box if no mutual aid was involved.

If the receiving fire department completes the incident, then the giving department should
complete the required portion of the module as needed for its own documentation of the inci-
dent. This can be particularly important for documenting fire service casualties.

Resources: If you give aid, you may choose to report your own resources as an option
(Block G1). Similarly, if you receive aid, you may choose to count only your own
resources or count your own resources plus those of the aid-giving department. If you
include aid-received resources, check or mark the corresponding box.

Casualties: The aid-receiving department reports the details on all casualties other than
the fire service casualties of the aid-giving department. Each department reports the
details on its own fire service casualties.

. It is critical to the reporting system that the aid-receiving departments always report
the total number of civilian casualties associated with the incident.

Examples
Three examples given below illustrate aid entries.

1. A fire department receives automatic aid from another department in fighting a fire. The
Gorman County Fire Department responded to a structure fire to assist the Buckley Fire &
Rescue Department. Buckley FRD completes all required modules and checks the “Auto-
matic aid received” box in Section D on the Basic Module.

The denotes a required field. 3–29 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Basic Module - D

• The equipment provided by the Gorman County FD may be listed in the Remarks section
(L). For example, “Gorman County Fire Department: one pumper, one aerial ladder.”
• The Gorman County FD completes Section A through Section G1 on the Basic Module. In
Section D, check or mark the Automatic Aid Given box and indicate Buckley FRD’s
FDID, state, and incident number. If the incident number is unknown, then the Gorman
County FD is required to complete the entire Basic Module.

2. A fire department sends apparatus and personnel to a nearby community to “fill-in” for
its fire department. Buckley Fire & Rescue Department sent one pumper to fill-in at Station
13 in Gorman County FD’s jurisdiction.

• If the Buckley FRD fill-in unit responded to an incident: Buckley FRD completes the
Basic Module using Gorman County FD’s FDID and Incident Number because, once they
are in the Gorman station, it is the same as if they are Gorman fire department personnel.
• If Buckley FRD did not respond to an incident: Buckley FRD completes the Basic Module
with the Action Taken (Section F) as “Fill-in, Standby” (code 92) using the Buckley FDID
and Incident Number:
Aid Given or Received None
D
1 Mutual aid received
2 Auto. aid received 0 7 4 3 4 V A
3 x Mutual aid given
Their FDID Their
State
4 Auto. aid given
5 Other aid given 0 0 0
Their Incident Number

3. A fire department gives aid to another jurisdiction without a fire department. The Buck-
ley Fire & Rescue Department covers the neighboring town of Dunnville, which has no fire
protection services of its own.

• For each incident that Buckley FRD responds to in Dunnville, the Other Aid Given box
should be checked or marked and the Basic Module completed.

AID GIVEN OR RECEIVED CODES

1 Mutual aid received from an outside fire service entity upon request from the initial
responding department.
2 Automatic aid received. Includes a department receiving aid from an outside fire
service entity that was dispatched automatically based on a prior agreement
between two jurisdictions.
3 Mutual aid given to an outside fire service entity on request of the outside entity.
4 Automatic aid given. Includes departments automatically dispatched to give aid to
an outside fire service entity based on a prior agreement between two jurisdictions.
5 Other aid given. Includes a fire department responding to another jurisdiction or
locale that has no fire department.
N No aid given or received.

The denotes a required field. 3–30 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Basic Module - E

SECTION E E

Section E collects the dates and times of the when the alarm was received, when the units arrived
on scene, when the incident was controlled, and when the last unit left the scene.

E1 Dates and Times

All dates and time are entered as numerals. For time of day, the 24-hour clock is used. (Midnight
is 0000.)

Alarm Time
Definition
The actual month, day, year, and time of day (hour, minute, and (optional in on-line entry)
seconds) when the alarm was received by the fire department. This is not an elapsed time.

. The Alarm time is the same as the Incident Date (Section A), except if the incident is an
exposure and the exposure occurs on a subsequent day.

Purpose
Alarm time is important for three reasons: (1) as a legal requirement for recording the precise
time notification was made of the incident, (2) as information for determining the frequency
of particular types of incidents by time period, and (3) as the starting time to determine the
length of time taken to arrive at an incident and the total amount of time spent on the incident
scene.

. For all automated systems, NFIRS supports the collection of all times in seconds in addi-
tion to hours and minutes, although it is not required. Collection of seconds is usually
used by fire departments using computer-aided dispatch.

Entry
Enter the month, day, year (mm/dd/yyyy), and time to the nearest minute when the original
alarm was received by the fire department.

01 January 05 May 09 September

02 February 06 June 10 October
03 March 07 July 11 November
04 April 08 August 12 December

12:00 midnight = 0000 1:06 a.m. = 0106

12:01 a.m. = 0001 2:20 p.m. = 1420

The denotes a required field. 3–31 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Basic Module - E

Example
The alarm was received at 5:37 p.m. on December 23, 2002:
Midnight is 0000
E1 Dates and Times
Month Day Year Hour Min
Check boxes if ALARM always required
dates are the
same as Alarm Alarm 1 2 2 3 2 0 0 2 1 7 3 7
Date.
ARRIVAL required, unless canceled or did not arrive
Arrival
CONTROLLED optional, except for wildland fires
Controlled

Last Unit LAST UNIT CLEARED, required except for wildland fires
Cleared

Arrival Time
Definition
The actual month, day, year, and time of day when the first responding unit arrived at the inci-
dent scene. This is not an elapsed time.

Purpose
This element reflects the time spent traveling to the scene of the incident. This information
can be useful to fire department management in determining (1) the actual time spent at an
incident and (2) any delay between alarm and arrival.

Entry
Enter the month, day, year (mm/dd/yyyy), and time that the first fire department unit arrived
on the scene. If the date is the same as the Alarm date, check or mark the corresponding box;
do not reenter the date.

. If canceled on the way to a call, Arrival time should be the same as Last Unit Cleared
time.

Example
The first responding units arrived at 5:42 p.m. on December 23, 2002:
Midnight is 0000
E1 Dates and Times
Month Day Year Hour Min
Check boxes if ALARM always required
dates are the
same as Alarm Alarm 1 2 2 3 2 0 0 2 1 7 3 7
Date.
ARRIVAL required, unless canceled or did not arrive
x Arrival 1 7 4 2
CONTROLLED optional, except for wildland fires
Controlled
LAST UNIT CLEARED, required except for wildland fires
Last Unit
Cleared

The denotes a required field. 3–32 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Basic Module - E

Controlled Time
Definition
The actual month, day, year, and time of day when the fire is brought under control or the inci-
dent is stabilized and does not require additional emergency resources. “Controlled” is the
time when the incident commander determines that the fire will not escape from its contain-
ment perimeter.

. This is a required field for wildland fires.

Purpose
The time spent stabilizing a fire provides fire department management with the information
needed to analyze the duration patterns of different types of fires. This can assist in determin-
ing service demand and costs for resource allocation.

Entry
Enter the month, day, year (mm/dd/yyyy), and time that the incident was controlled. If the
date is the same as the Alarm date, check or mark the corresponding box; do not reenter the
date. However, if the incident extended (from the Alarm time to the Controlled time) through
midnight, do not check or mark the box; instead, enter the date.

Example
The fire was controlled at 12:24 a.m. on December 24, 2002:
Midnight is 0000
E1 Dates and Times
Month Day Year Hour Min
Check boxes if ALARM always required
dates are the
same as Alarm Alarm 1 2 2 3 2 0 0 2 1 7 3 7
Date.
ARRIVAL required, unless canceled or did not arrive
x Arrival 1 7 4 2
CONTROLLED optional, except for wildland fires
Controlled 1 2 2 4 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 4
LAST UNIT CLEARED, required except for wildland fires
Last Unit
Cleared

Last Unit Cleared Time

Definition
The actual month, day, year, and time of day when the last unit cleared the incident scene.
This is not an elapsed time.

Purpose
Combined with the previously recorded times, this element is valuable to fire department
management in determining the actual time spent at an incident.

Entry
Enter the month, day, year (mm/dd/yyyy), and time that the last unit cleared the scene. If the
date is the same as the Alarm date, check or mark the corresponding box; do not reenter the

The denotes a required field. 3–33 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Basic Module - E

date. However, if the incident extended (from the Alarm time to the Last Unit Cleared time)
through midnight, do not check or mark the box; instead, enter the date.

Example
The last unit cleared at 1:00 a.m. on December 24, 2002:
Midnight is 0000
E1 Dates and Times
Month Day Year Hour Min
Check boxes if ALARM always required
dates are the 2 0 0 2 1 7 3 7
Alarm 1 2 2 3
same as Alarm
Date.
ARRIVAL required, unless canceled or did not arrive
x Arrival 1 7 4 2
CONTROLLED optional, except for wildland fires
Controlled 1 2 2 4 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 4
LAST UNIT CLEARED, required except for wildland fires
Last Unit
Cleared 1 2 2 4 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 0

E2 Shift and Alarms

Shift or Platoon
Definition
Identifies the on-duty shift or platoon that responded to the incident. This applies only to fire
departments with organized work force arrangements.

Purpose
Recording the shift that responded to an incident assists fire departments in determining
workload balances and staffing requirements. This is a local option.

Entry
If your fire department uses this data element, enter the designation of the on-duty shift that
responded to the incident. If the incident was of such duration that the shift changed during
the control of the incident, record the shift change time and the designation of the new shift in
the Remarks section (L).

. Fire departments should establish and publish the codes or values to be used in this field.

Example
C Shift responds to an incident:

E2 Shifts and Alarms

Local Option

C
Shift or Alarms District
platoon

Alarms
Definition
The actual number of alarms transmitted for the incident. The definition of an alarm is deter-
mined at the local level.

The denotes a required field. 3–34 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Basic Module - E

Purpose
The number of alarms is one method of measuring incident severity. Knowing the number of
alarms can be useful for local analysis of resource requirements. The number of alarms also
may be related to mutual aid support. This is a local option.

Entry
If your fire department has a standard method of designating alarms, enter the number of
alarms required for this incident.

Example
A three-alarm fire in a business district:
E2 Shifts and Alarms
Local Option

C 3
Shift or Alarms District
platoon

District
Definition
An area identified by the fire department that is useful for administrative purposes.

Purpose
Fire departments can develop their own method of locating the frequency and severity of inci-
dents by district. District numbers may identify specific townships, contract service areas,
political wards, station response areas, inspection or administrative districts, or any other
boundary a department may wish to use. This data element can be a powerful tool for local
use. This is a local option.

Entry
Enter the fire department-assigned District number where the incident occurred. These
positions can contain any combination of letters or numbers as designated by your fire
department.

Example
The fire occurred in Station 1A’s first due area:
Shifts and Alarms
E2 Local Option

C 3 1A
Shift or Alarms District
platoon

E3 Special Studies
Definition
Temporary data elements that can be used for collection of information that is of special inter-
est for a defined period. Special studies are typically required to capture information on
emerging trends, problem areas, or a specific issue being studied. When the answer becomes

The denotes a required field. 3–35 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Basic Module - F

known through the special study, the collection of that field is no longer required. If the data
will always be needed for permanent collection, a state- or department-defined permanent
user field should be created and used instead of the Special Studies field. A state, a fire depart-
ment, or the National Fire Data Center can define special studies.

Special Study ID Number: This number uniquely identifies each special study that is being
run by the fire department, state, or National Fire Data Center.

Special Study Value: The value in the field being collected. Responses for special studies
can be defined as codes or as alphanumeric entries of numeric values or dates. States, fire
departments, and the National Fire Data Center can define Special Studies fields.

Purpose
The use of special studies allows departments, states, and the National Fire Data Center to
quickly collect information on an issue or problem and to answer a specific question through
the temporary use of a special study field over a defined period of time. This is a state or local
option.

Entry
If you are participating in a Special Study, your entry will depend on the type of data being
collected. Use the codeset defined for the particular Special Study field if it is a coded entry.
The data entered may also be a date or a numeric entry if the field has been so defined. Addi-
tional Special Study fields are available on the Supplemental Form (NFIRS–1S).

SECTION F F

F Actions Taken
. Actions Taken was known as Type of Action Taken in NFIRS 4.1.

Definition
The duties performed at the incident scene by the responding fire department personnel.

Purpose
These data elements, together with Incident Type, enable a fire department to document the
breadth of activities and the resources required by the responding fire department to effec-
tively handle the incident. This information also provides some indication of the specific
types of services provided by the fire department.

Entry
The Actions Taken field(s) is required for all incidents where actions were taken, including
“investigation only.” Enter the two-digit codes and descriptions for up to three of the most sig-
nificant actions taken at the scene of the incident. Specific actions may include extinguishing
fires, forcible entry, providing first aid, identifying and analyzing hazardous materials, and

The denotes a required field. 3–36 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Basic Module - F

transporting the injured. The action may involve simply standing by at an incident for possi-
ble service.

Be as specific as possible in stating the action taken. The Additional Action Taken fields are
optional. If this is a HazMat incident and the HazMat Module is being completed, list the non-
HazMat actions taken in this field and the Actions Taken specific to handling the hazardous
materials incident in the HazMat Module.

. The Primary Action Taken is the most significant action taken by the fire department at
the scene (i.e., use the code with the lowest numerical value). This is a required field.

. When canceled en route, enter code 93, “Canceled en route”; in the case, the Incident
Type (Section C) must be code 611.

Example
The fire department extinguished the fire (11), provided first aid to a fire victim (31), and
overhauled the fire scene (12):

F Actions Taken

1 1 Extinguished the fire

Primary Action Taken (1)

3 1 Provided first aid

Primary Action Taken (2)

1 2 Overhauled the scene

Primary Action Taken (3)

ACTIONS TAKEN CODES

Fire Control or Extinguishment

11 Extinguishment by fire service personnel.
12 Salvage and overhaul.
13 Establish fire lines around wildfire perimeter. Includes clearing firebreaks using
direct, indirect, and burnout tactics as appropriate.
14 Contain fire (wildland). Includes taking suppression action that can reasonably be
expected to check the fire spread under prevailing and predicted conditions.
15 Confine fire (wildland). Includes when fire crews or resources stop the forward
progress of a fire but have not put in all control lines.
16 Control fire (wildland). Includes when fire crews or resources completely surround
the fire perimeter with control lines; extinguish any spot fires; burn any area adjacent
to the fire side of the control lines; and cool down all hot spots that are immediate
threats to the control line, until the lines can reasonably be expected to hold under
foreseeable conditions.
17 Manage prescribed fire (wildland).
10 Fire control or extinguishment, other.

Search and Rescue

21 Search for lost or missing person. Includes animals.
22 Rescue, remove from harm. Excludes vehicle extrication (23).
23 Extrication or disentangling of a person. Excludes body recovery (24).
24 Recover body or body parts.
20 Search and rescue, other.

The denotes a required field. 3–37 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Basic Module - F

EMS and Transport

31 Provide first aid and check for injuries. Medical evaluation of patient.
32 Provide basic life support (BLS).
33 Provide advanced life support (ALS).
34 Transport of person from scene in fire service ambulance or apparatus.
30 Emergency medical services, other.

Hazardous Condition
41 Identification, analysis of hazardous materials.
42 Hazardous materials detection, monitoring, sampling, and analysis using a variety of
detection instruments including combustible gas indicators (CGIs) or explosimeter,
oxygen monitors, colorimetric tubes, specific chemical monitors, and others. Results
from these devices must be analyzed to provide information about the hazardous
nature of the material or environment.
43 Hazardous materials spill control and confinement. Includes confining or diking
hazardous materials. These are actions taken to confine the product released to a
limited area including the use of absorbents, damming/diking, diversion of liquid
runoff, dispersion, retention, or vapor suppression.
44 Hazardous materials leak control and containment. Includes actions taken to keep a
material within its container, such as plugging/patching operations, neutralization,
pressure isolation/reduction, solidification, and vacuuming.
45 Remove hazard. Includes neutralizing a hazardous condition.
46 Decontaminate persons or equipment. Includes actions taken to prevent the spread
of contaminants from the “hot zone” to the “cold zone.” This includes gross,
technical, or advanced personal decontamination of victims, emergency
responders, and equipment.
47 Decontamination of occupancy or area exposed to hazardous materials.
48 Remove hazardous materials. Includes a broad range of actions taken to remove
hazardous materials from a damaged container or contaminated area. Examples of
actions to remove hazards include product offload/transfer, controlled burning or
product flaring, venting, and overpacking.
40 Hazardous condition, other.

Fires, Rescues, and Hazardous Conditions

51 Ventilate. Includes nonhazardous odor removal and removal of smoke from
nonhazardous materials-related fires.
52 Forcible entry, performed by fire service. Includes support to law enforcement.
53 Evacuate area. Removal of civilians from an area determined to be hazardous.
Includes actions taken to isolate the contaminated area and/or evacuate those
persons affected by a hazardous materials release or potential release.
54 Determine if the materials released are nonhazardous through product identification
and environmental monitoring.
55 Establish safe area. Includes isolating the area affected by denying entry to
unprotected persons and establishing hazard control zones (hot, warm, cold).
56 Provide air supply.
57 Provide light or electrical power.
58 Operate apparatus or vehicle.
50 Fires, rescues, and hazardous conditions, other.

Systems and Services

61 Restore municipal services. Includes turning water back on and notifying the gas
company to turn the gas on.
62 Restore sprinkler or fire protection system.
63 Restore fire alarm system. Includes restoring fire alarm systems monitored by the
fire service.
64 Shut down system. Includes shutting down water, gas, and fire alarm systems.
65 Secure property. Includes property conservation activities such as covering broken
windows or holes in roofs.

The denotes a required field. 3–38 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Basic Module - G

66 Remove water or control flooding condition.

60 Systems and services, other.

Assistance
71 Assist physically disabled. Includes providing nonmedical assistance to physically
disabled, handicapped, or elderly citizens.
72 Assist animal. Includes animal rescue, extrication, removal, or transport.
73 Provide manpower. Includes providing manpower to assist rescue/ambulance units
lift patients or providing manpower to assist police.
74 Provide apparatus.
75 Provide equipment, where equipment is used by another agency.
76 Provide water. Includes tanker shuttle operations and pumping in a relay or from a
water source. Excludes normal fire suppression operations.
77 Control crowd. Includes restricting pedestrian access to an area. Excludes control of
vehicles (78).
78 Control traffic. Includes setting up barricades and directing traffic.
79 Assess damage from severe weather or the results of a natural disaster.
70 Assistance, other.

Information, Investigation, and Enforcement

81 Incident command. Includes providing support to incident command activities.
82 Notify other agencies. Includes notifications of utility companies, property owners,
and the like.
83 Provide information to the public or media.
84 Refer to proper authority. Includes turnover of incidents to other authorities or
agencies such as the police.
85 Enforce fire code and other codes. Includes response to public complaints and
abatement of code violations.
86 Investigate. Includes investigations done on arrival to determine the situation and
post-incident investigations; and collecting incident information for incident reporting
purposes.
80 Information, investigation, and enforcement, other.

Fill-in, Standby
91 Fill in, move up to another fire station.
92 Standby.
93 Canceled en route.
00 Actions taken, other.
90 Fill-in, standby, other.

SECTION G G

Section G collects data on the number of personnel and equipment used for suppression, EMS,
etc., in the response to a specific incident.

G1 Resources
Definition
The total complement of fire department personnel and apparatus (suppression, EMS, other)
that responded to the incident. This includes all fire and EMS personnel assigned to the inci-
dent whether they arrived at the scene or were canceled before arrival.

The denotes a required field. 3–39 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Basic Module - G

Purpose
This information is used to determine actual personnel and apparatus requirements for differ-
ent types of incidents and for different levels of incident severity. This data element may be
examined with respect to casualties and damage estimates.

Entry
Enter the total number of fire department personnel and apparatus that responded to the inci-
dent for the Suppression, EMS, and Other fields. If the Apparatus Module or Personnel
Modules is used, check or mark the appropriate box (top) and skip this section. If these per-
sonnel and apparatus counts include mutual aid resources, check or mark the box at the bot-
tom of Block G1.

. Chief officer vehicles and privately owned vehicles should be counted as “Other.” The
personnel arriving in these vehicles should be counted according to their primary assign-
ment at the incident.

Example
Four firefighters (one engine), two EMS personnel (one ambulance), and one incident com-
mander (one car) responded to an incident:
Resources
G1
Check this box and skip this block if an
Apparatus or Personnel Module is used.

Apparatus Personnel
Suppression 1 4

EMS 1 2
Other 1 1
Check box if resource counts include aid
received resources.

G2 Estimated Dollar Losses and Values

Definition
Estimates of the total property and contents dollar loss and the pre-incident value of the prop-
erty and contents.

. An estimate of the property and contents dollar loss is required for all fires where the
value is known.

Losses: Rough estimation of the total loss to the structure and contents, in terms of the cost
of replacement in like kind and quantity. This estimation of the fire loss includes contents
damaged by fire, smoke, water, and overhaul. This does not include indirect loss, such as
business interruption.

Pre-incident Value: Estimation of the replacement cost of the structure and contents.

The denotes a required field. 3–40 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 Basic Module -

Purpose
Collecting property and contents losses illustrates the magnitude of the fire problem, provides
an additional indicator of the incident severity, and can be used to evaluate progress in fire
protection. This information can help local communities, states, and the country determine the
amount of money that should be spent on fire protection.

Estimated property and contents losses are also crucial for identifying types of situations
where high monetary losses are common. This information helps target fire prevention pro-
grams. Loss estimates also can be used to evaluate the cost effectiveness of various equipment
and fire protection practices.

Pre-incident values help delimit the magnitude of the potential fire problem by providing a
basis for comparison.

Entry
Enter the best estimates of dollar losses (required for all fires when obtainable) and pre-inci-
dent values (local option) that are practical to make or obtain. Monetary losses should be esti-
mated as accurately as possible, though it is understood that the estimates may be rough
approximations. If there was no loss or no pre-incident value, check or mark the appropriate
None boxes.

. In making this entry, use only whole dollars; do not include cents.

. A better estimate of losses for a fire often becomes available after the incident report is
submitted. Revision of the original estimate should be made as a change entry when bet-
ter information becomes available, especially for large fires.

Example
The estimated dollar loss was $3,450; the estimated pre-incident value was $7,500:
G2 Estimated Dollar Losses and Values
Required for all fires if known.
LOSSES: Optional for non-fires. None
Property $ , 3 , 4 5 0
Contents , , X
PRE-INCIDENT VALUE: Optional

Property $ , 7 , 5 0 0
Contents $ , , X

COMPLETED MODULES

This area of the Basic Module is used to determine the totality of all the modules submitted for a
specific incident. It acts as a checklist for completed modules under the paper form system.

The denotes a required field. 3–41 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Basic Module - H

Definition
Listing of NFIRS–2 through NFIRS–11 modules completed for the incident.

Purpose
This section is for paper form management to ensure receiving authorities that the incident
package is complete. It also serves as a reminder to the responder as to which modules must
be completed.

Entry
Check or mark all the Completed Module boxes that apply to the incident.

Example
A fire department responded to fire in an apartment building; one firefighter was injured.
Three additional forms will be attached to the Basic Module: Fire, Structure Fire, and Fire
Service Casualty:
Completed Modules
X Fire–2
X Structure Fire–3
Civilian Fire Cas.–4
X Fire Service Cas.–5
EMS–6
HazMat–7
Wildland Fire–8
Apparatus–9
Personnel–10
Arson–11

SECTION H H

Section H captures information on the number of civilians and firefighters injured or killed as a
result of the incident. Other information in this section relates to whether a detector alerted occu-
pants in a structure and whether hazardous materials were released.

H1 Casualties
Definition
A person injured or killed either as a result of the incident or during the mitigation of the inci-
dent. An injury is physical damage to a person that requires either (1) treatment by a practi-
tioner of medicine within 1 year of the incident, or (2) at least 1 day of restricted activity
immediately following the incident. Deaths also include people who die within 1 year because
of injuries sustained from the incident.

. Either the None box is checked or marked or the number of casualties is entered.

Civilians include emergency personnel who are not members of the fire department, such as
police officers or utility workers.

The denotes a required field. 3–42 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Basic Module - H

Purpose
This information can be correlated with occupancy type, structural conditions, and other data
to help understand how to reduce future fire injuries and deaths. Furthermore, this information
can be used to reduce firefighter injuries and deaths through better equipment, training, and
physical conditioning.

Entry
Identify and separately record the number the number of fire service personnel and the num-
ber of civilians or other non-fire department personnel killed or injured as a result of the inci-
dent. Check the None box if there were no civilian or fire service personnel casualties.

Fire Service Deaths: Enter the number of fire service personnel from your department
who died in connection with this incident regardless of incident type. A Fire Service Casu-
alty Module must be completed for each individual counted here.

Fire Service Injuries: Enter the number of fire service personnel from your department
who were injured (but did not die) in connection with this incident regardless of incident
type. A Fire Service Casualty Module must be completed for each individual counted
here.

. Include those people injured or killed while responding to or returning from the inci-
dent. If the injury or death occurred on fire department property after the apparatus
was placed back in service, do not include it in this section.

. On-duty firefighter injuries or deaths that did not occur during an incident may be
collected using the Fire Service Casualty Module. Remember when reporting a fire-
fighter casualty of this type, the Basic Module must still be filled out, complete with
an incident number. In this event, create an EMS incident with the appropriate
response information.

Civilian Deaths: Enter the number of civilians or non-fire department personnel who died
in connection with this incident. Enter only fire-related deaths here. For HazMat deaths,
enter the number in Section P of the HazMat Module when that optional module is
selected by your state reporting authority. A Civilian Casualty Module must be completed
for each individual counted here.

Civilian Injuries: Enter the number of civilians or non-fire department personnel who
were injured (but did not die) in connection with this incident. Enter only fire-related inju-
ries here. For HazMat injuries, enter the number in Section P of the HazMat Module when
that optional module is selected by your state reporting authority. The Civilian Casualty
Module must be completed for each individual counted here.

. EMS civilian deaths or injuries are not entered on either the Basic or the HazMat
Modules.

The denotes a required field. 3–43 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Basic Module - H

Example
One civilian and one firefighter were injured at the scene of a tractor-trailer accident:

Casualties None
H1
Deaths Injuries
Fire
Service 1

Civilian 1

H2 Detector
Definition
The presence in the general area of fire origin of one or more detectors that was within the
operational range of the detector(s) at the time of an incident.

. This is required for all confined fires (Incident Type codes 113–118, Section C).

Purpose
The information on whether or not a detector alerted the occupants of a structure to an emer-
gency is important for understanding fire control and life safety with and without detection
equipment.

Entry
Check or mark the box if a detector alerted the occupants in this incident (regardless of
whether the detector was smoke, heat, carbon monoxide, etc.). This block can be left blank for
non-fire incidents, and can optionally be used for a carbon dioxide (CO2) incident and
whether a CO2 detector operated.

Example
Burning food on the stove set off the smoke detector and alerted the occupants:
H2 Detector
Required for confined fires

1 X Detector alerted occupants

2 Detector did not alert them
U Unknown

DETECTOR CODES

1 Detector alerted occupants.

2 Detector did not alert occupants.
U Unknown.

H3 Hazardous Materials Release

Definition
The occurrence and nature of a hazardous material release at the incident.

The denotes a required field. 3–44 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I Basic Module - I

Purpose
This element provides information on whether or not hazardous materials were released at the
incident, what the materials were, and whether the HazMat Module should be completed.
This allows fire departments to document releases of hazardous materials as minor spills that
occur in the everyday environment without the need to complete the HazMat Module.

Entry
Check or mark the box best describing the type of spill or release that occurred at the incident.
If no hazardous materials were involved or no HazMat release, check or mark the None box.
Complete the HazMat Module if special HazMat actions were required, including the need for
special protective clothing or equipment, or if the spill was equal to or greater than 55 gallons.

Example
Gasoline was leaking from the car involved in a motor vehicle accident:

H3 Hazardous Materials Release None

1 Natural gas: slow leak, no evacuation or HazMat actions

2 Propane gas: <21-lb tank (as in home BBQ grill)
3 x Gasoline: vehicle fuel tank or portable container
4 Kerosene: fuel burning equipment or portable storage
5 Diesel fuel/fuel oil: vehicle fuel tank or portable storage
6 Household solvents: home/office spill, cleanup only
7 Motor oil: from engine or portable container
8 Paint: from paint cans totaling <55 gallons
0 Other: special HazMat actions required or spill > 55 gal
(Please complete the HazMat form.)

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RELEASE CODES

1 Natural gas, slow leak, no evacuation or HazMat actions taken.

2 Propane gas, less than a 21-pound tank (as in home BBQ grill).
3 Gasoline, vehicle fuel tank or portable container. Includes leaks or releases from
equipment tanks where the release is less than 55 gallons.
4 Kerosene, fuel-burning equipment or portable storage container less than 55
gallons.
5 Diesel fuel or fuel oil, vehicle fuel tank or portable storage container less than 55
gallons.
6 Household/office solvent or chemical spill. Includes spills of mineral spirits, acetone,
and turpentine. Cleanup only.
7 Motor oil from engine or portable container less than 55 gallons.
8 Paint from paint cans less than 55 gallons.
0 Other special HazMat actions were required or the spill was equal to or greater than
55 gallons. Complete the HazMat Module.
N No HazMat involved.

SECTION I I

I Mixed Use Property

. Mixed Use Property is similar to Complex in NFIRS 4.1.

The denotes a required field. 3–45 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I Basic Module - I

Definition
This data element captures the overall use of a property. If a property has two or more uses,
then the Mixed Use Property designation applies.

Purpose
Documenting an incident that occurs on a property with more than one use is important to
better identify the overall or main use of the property in which emergency incidents occur.
Knowing the overall property use allows for better analysis of incident causes and targeting of
prevention strategies. It also is important information for use in code development and
enforcement as well as for inspection activities.

Entry
If the property is of mixed use, check or mark the box best describing the overall use of the
property where the incident occurred. Check or mark the appropriate box even if the incident
did not involve the entire complex (for example, a single store in a row of stores). If it is not a
mixed use property, check or mark the Not Mixed box.

. For example, a restaurant in an office building would be a structure with two or more
property uses, assembly use and office use. The Mixed Use Property designation would
be office use (code 59). A warehouse on the property of an amusement park would have a
designation of assembly use (10). A standalone service station would not be a Mixed Use
although it has a driveway and parking area.

Example
An electrical fire in the store of a hotel lobby (40):
I Mixed Use
Property
Not mixed

10 Assembly Use
20 Education use
33 Medical use
40 X Residential use
51 Row of stores
53 Enclosed mall
58 Business & residential
59 Office use
60 Industrial use
63 Military use
65 Farm use
00 Other mixed use

MIXED USE PROPERTY CODES

10 Assembly use. Places for the gathering of people for amusement, recreation, social,
religious, civic, patriotic, travel, and similar purposes. The occupants are present
voluntarily and for a limited duration.
20 Educational use. Properties used for the gathering of groups of persons for
purposes of instruction. These occupancies differ from assembly occupancies in
that persons are present regularly and under some control or discipline.
33 Medical use. Properties dedicated to health care, including hospitals, treatment
centers, clinics, and doctor's office buildings. Medical complexes include facilities for
psychological and physical care.
40 Residential use. A property in which sleeping accommodations are furnished.
Accommodations may be permanent, as in an apartment; transient, as in a hotel; or
temporary, as in a dormitory or barracks.

The denotes a required field. 3–46 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Basic Module - J

51 Row of stores. Includes strip malls. Excludes enclosed malls (53).

53 Enclosed mall. A shopping center with multiple stores sharing a common, enclosed
area. The principal use is for retail trade, with incidental other uses such as office
and business. Excludes strip malls (51).
58 Business and residential properties containing a mixture of commercial activity with
residential uses. Includes mixed-use developments and apartments with first-floor
retailing.
59 Office use. Office properties are those used primarily for the transaction of business
and the keeping of records. Includes those with incidental retail sales or eating
establishments.
60 Industrial use. Properties characterized by the mechanical, chemical, or
electromagnetic transformation of inorganic or organic substances into new
products via machinery or by hand. Includes the assembly of component parts to
produce finished or intermediate goods for further processing.
63 Military use. Any property under the regular control of the U.S. military or authorized
state militias. Includes military bases, training centers, armories, and related
facilities.
65 Farm use. Included are croplands, orchards, and livestock production.
00 Mixed use, other.
NN Not mixed use. Incident property consists of a single use.

SECTION J J

J Property Use
. Property Use was known as Fixed Property Use in NFIRS 4.1.

Definition
Each individual property has a specific use, whether a structure or open land. This entry refers
to the actual use of the property where the incident occurred, not the overall use of mixed use
properties of which the property is part (see Mixed Use Property, Section I). The intent of this
entry is to specify the property use, not the configuration of the building or other details of the
property.

Purpose
This element permits analyses of differing fire problems that occur on a wide range of prop-
erty types. Information on the frequency, losses, and types of fires for each property use can
assist in targeting fire prevention programs and fire protection or suppression systems for
each type of property. It often assists in ordering priorities for inspection, developing new
building codes, and evaluating the success of programs directed at particular types of
properties.

Entry
Check or mark the box best describing the specific property use. If the property use is not
listed in Section J of the paper form, look up the specific property use code and enter the
appropriate three-digit code and the code’s description. If no property was involved in the
incident (e.g., Incident Type code 611), check or mark the None box.

The denotes a required field. 3–47 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Basic Module - J

. If the property is a structure that is under construction, select the use for which it will be
used. This is not applicable to construction site incidents (code 981). If the structure is
vacant or being demolished, select its last significant use.

. Property that is mobile or in transit is reported separately, and the property it is located on
at that time is reported in this entry box. If the mobile property is not in transit, indicate its
current location. The most common property use classifications for structures and outside
property are listed.

. Mobile homes. Use code 419 for mobile homes used primarily as fixed residences. Inci-
dent Type code 121 (Section C) should have been used to indicate that this was a fire in a
mobile home used as a fixed residence. If the mobile home is in transit, use the code
describing the property where the mobile home is located at the time of the incident.

. If the Property Type is in the 400 series, Block B1, Estimated Number of Residential Liv-
ing Units in the Building, on the Fire Module must be completed.

. Property Type 500s, 600s, 700s, or 800s. If the property use code falls in the 500, 600,
700, or 800 series, the On-Site Materials field (Section C) on the Fire Module must be
completed.

Example
Fire in a small electronics warehouse (891):
Property Use None
J 341 Clinic, clinic-type infirmary 539 Household goods, sales, repairs
Structures 342 Doctor/dentist office 571 Gas or service station
131 Church, place of worship 361 Prison or jail, not juvenile 579 Motor vehicle/boat sales/repairs
161 Restaurant or cafeteria 419 1- or 2-family dwelling 599 Business office
162 Bar/tavern or nightclub 429 Multifamily dwelling 615 Electric-generating plant
213 Elementary school, kindergarten 439 Rooming/boarding house 629 Laboratory/science laboratory
215 High school, junior high 449 Commercial hotel or motel 700 Manufacturing plant
241 College, adult education 459 Residential, board and care 819 Livestock/poultry storage (barn)
311 Nursing home 464 Dormitory/barracks 882 Non-residential parking garage
331 Hospital 519 Food and beverage sales 891 X Warehouse
Outside 936 Vacant lot 981 Construction site
124 Playground or park 938 Graded/cared for plot of land 984 Industrial plant yard
655 Crops or orchard 946 Lake, river, stream
Look up and enter a
669 Forest (timberland) 951 Railroad right-of-way Property Use code and Property Use
807 Outdoor storage area 960 Other street description only if you Code
have NOT checked a
919 Dump or sanitary landfill 961 Highway/divided highway Property Use box.
Property Use Description
931 Open land or field 962 Residential street/driveway

The above example requires completion of Section C, On-Site Materials or Products, on the
Fire Module. There, code 712 would be entered as the On-Site Material, Electronics Parts
would be entered as the description, and the code 1 box indicating Bulk Storage or Warehous-
ing would be checked or marked.

. An alphabetized synonym list for the following Property Use codes is presented in
Appendix B.

The denotes a required field. 3–48 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Basic Module - J

PROPERTY USE CODES

Assembly
111 Bowling establishment.
112 Billiard center, pool hall.
113 Electronic amusement center. Includes video arcades and the like.
114 Ice rink. Includes indoor or outdoor facilities for use exclusively as ice rinks.
Excludes combination ice rinks/basketball or other uses (123).
115 Roller rink. Includes indoor or outdoor facilities for use exclusively as roller skating
rinks or skateboard parks. Excludes facilities with multiple uses (123).
116 Swimming facility. Includes indoor or outdoor swimming pools, related cabanas,
bathhouses, and equipment locations.
110 Fixed-use recreation places, other. Includes miniature golf courses, driving, and
batting ranges.
121 Ballroom, gymnasium. Includes dance halls, basketball courts, indoor running
tracks.
122 Convention center, exhibit hall. Includes large open hall without fixed seating, such
as convention center, exhibit hall, armory hall, and field house.
123 Stadium, arena. Includes fixed seating in large areas, such as ballpark, football
stadium, grandstand, and race track.
124 Playground or outdoor area with fixed recreational equipment.
129 Amusement center, indoor/outdoor. Includes carnivals, circuses. Excludes video
arcades (113).
120 Variable-use amusement, recreation places, other.
131 Church, mosque. Includes synagogues, temples, chapels, religious educational
facilities, and church halls.
134 Funeral parlor. Includes crematoriums, mortuaries, morgues, and mausoleums.
130 Places of worship, funeral parlors, other.
141 Athletic or health club. Includes YMCA or YWCA, lodge, swimming, and baths. If
sleeping facilities are included, use 449.
142 Clubhouse associated with country club that includes golf, tennis, hunting, fishing,
and riding activities.
143 Yacht club. Includes boating and yacht club facilities. Excludes marinas, boat
mooring facilities (898); boat repair/refueling facilities (571); or boat sales, services,
and repairs (579).
144 Casino, gambling clubs. Includes bingo halls. Use only where primary use is for
gambling.
140 Clubs, other.
151 Library.
152 Museum. Includes art galleries, planetariums, and aquariums.
154 Memorial structure. Includes monuments and statues.
155 Courthouse. Includes courtrooms.
150 Public or government, other.
161 Restaurant or cafeteria. Places specializing in on-premises consumption of food.
Includes carryout and drive-through restaurants.
162 Bar, nightclub, saloon, tavern, pub.
160 Eating, drinking places, other.
171 Airport passenger terminal. Includes heliports.
173 Bus station.
174 Rapid transit station. Includes subway stations, rail stations, light rail stations,
monorail stations, and the like.
170 Passenger terminal, other.
181 Live performance theater.
182 Auditorium, concert hall.
183 Movie theater. Includes facilities designed exclusively for showing motion pictures.
185 Radio, television studio.

The denotes a required field. 3–49 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Basic Module - J

186 Film/movie production studio. For film processing facilities, use (700). On the Fire
Module, use Onsite Materials (714).
180 Studio, theater, other.
100 Assembly, other.

Educational
210 Schools, non-adult, other.
211 Preschool, not in same facility with other grades. Includes nursery schools.
Excludes kindergartens (213) and daycare facilities (254, 255).
213 Elementary school. Includes kindergarten.
215 High school, junior high, middle school.
241 Adult education center, college classroom. Includes any building containing adult
education classrooms. The building may include other uses incidental to teaching.
254 Day care in commercial property.
255 Day care in residence, licensed.
256 Day care in residence, unlicensed.
200 Educational, other.

Health Care, Detention, and Correction

311 Nursing homes licensed by the state, providing 24-hour nursing care for four or
more persons.
321 Mental retardation/development disability facility that houses, on a 24-hour basis,
four or more persons.
322 Alcohol or substance abuse recovery center where four or more persons who are
incapable of self-preservation are housed on a 24-hour basis.
323 Asylum, mental institution. Includes facilities for the criminally insane. Must include
sleeping facilities.
331 Hospital: medical, pediatrics, psychiatric. Includes hospital-type infirmaries and
specialty hospitals where treatment is provided on a 24-hour basis.
332 Hospices. Includes facilities where the care and treatment of the terminally ill is
provided on a 24-hour basis.
341 Clinic, clinic-type infirmary. Includes ambulatory care facilities. Excludes facilities
that provide overnight care (331).
342 Doctor, dentist, or oral surgeon office.
343 Hemodialysis unit, free standing, not a part of a hospital.
340 Clinics, doctors’ offices, hemodialysis centers, other.
361 Jail, prison (not juvenile). Excludes police stations (365) or courthouses (153) where
a jail is part of the facility.
363 Reformatory, juvenile detention center.
365 Police station.
300 Health care, detention, and correction, other. Includes animal care.

Residential
419 1- or 2-family dwelling, detached, manufactured home, mobile home not in transit,
duplex.
429 Multifamily dwelling. Includes apartments, condos, town houses, row houses,
tenements.
439 Boarding/rooming house. Includes residential hotels and shelters.
449 Hotel/motel, commercial.
459 Residential board and care. Includes long-term care facilities, halfway houses, and
assisted-care housing facilities. Excludes nursing facilities (311).
460 Dormitory-type residence, other.
462 Sorority house, fraternity house.
464 Barracks, dormitory. Includes nurses’ quarters, military barracks, monastery/convent
dormitories, bunk houses, workers’ barracks.
400 Residential, other.

The denotes a required field. 3–50 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Basic Module - J

Mercantile, Business
511 Convenience store. Excludes service stations with associated convenience stores
(571).
519 Food and beverage sales, grocery store. Includes supermarkets, specialty food
stores, liquor stores, dairy stores, and delicatessens.
529 Textile, wearing apparel sales. Includes clothing, shoes, tailor furs, and dry goods
shops.
539 Household goods, sales, repairs. Includes furniture, appliances, hardware, paint,
wallpaper, music, and video stores.
549 Specialty shop. Sale of materials commonly used in the home, such as books,
stationery, newspapers, tobacco, licit drugs, jewelry, leather goods, flowers, optical
goods. Excludes liquor stores (519).
557 Personal service. Includes barber and beauty shops.
559 Recreational stores. Includes hobby supply, sporting goods, toy, pet, photographic
supply, garden supply, lumber, and fireworks stores and sales.
564 Laundry, dry cleaning. Includes self-service facilities.
569 Professional supplies, services. Includes art supply, home maintenance service, and
linen supply firms.
571 Service station, gas station. Includes LP-gas stations with associated convenience
stores and boat refueling stations. Excludes vehicle sales (579).
579 Motor vehicle or boat sales, services, repair. Includes facilities that have incidental
fuel dispensing.
581 Department or discount store. Includes stores selling a wide range of items that
cannot readily be classified, such as mall kiosks, drug stores, and discount buying
club stores that require memberships.
580 General retail, other.
592 Bank. Includes ATM kiosks when not part of another structure.
593 Office: veterinary or research. Excludes laboratories (629).
596 Post office or mailing firms.
599 Business office. Includes engineering, architectural, and technical offices. Excludes
military offices (631).
500 Mercantile, business, other.

Industrial, Utility, Defense, Agriculture, Mining

614 Steam- or heat-generating plant.
615 Electric-generating plant, regardless of fuel source. Includes power generation for
public or private use, power generation for rail transport, and nuclear powerplants
that generate electrical power.
610 Energy production plant, other.
629 Laboratory or science laboratory. Includes chemical, medical, biological, physical
materials testing, psychological, electronics, and general research laboratories. Also
includes classrooms and offices incidental to laboratory facilities. Minor laboratory
areas incidental to operations in another property should be considered part of the
predominating property.
631 Defense, military installation.
635 Computer center. Includes computer laboratories.
639 Communications center. Includes radio, TV, and telecommunications facilities.
642 Electrical distribution. Includes electrical substations, transformers, and utility poles.
644 Gas distribution, gas pipeline.
645 Flammable liquid distribution system, flammable liquid pipeline.
647 Water utility. Includes collection, treatment, storage, and distribution of water.
648 Sanitation utility. Includes incinerators and industrial rubbish burners. Excludes
dumps and landfills.
640 Utility or distribution system, other.
655 Crops or orchard. Includes plant nurseries and greenhouses as well as the
processing or packaging of agricultural crops or fruit that occurs on the property.
659 Livestock production. Includes milking facilities, poultry and egg production, and fish
hatcheries. Excludes crops or orchard (655), meat, and milk processing plants.

The denotes a required field. 3–51 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Basic Module - J

669 Forest, timberland, woodland. Includes standing timber without logging operations;
wildlife preserves; timber tracts where planting, replanting, and conservation of
forests are conducted; and areas where uncultivated materials such as wild rubber,
barks, and roots are gathered. Also includes facilities for extracting, concentrating,
and distilling of such materials when the facilities are located within the forest.
Excludes grasslands and brush (931).
679 Mine, quarry. Mining and quarrying of raw and natural materials. Includes
underground and surface mines, gravel pits, oil wells, coal mines, ore mines, salt
mines, chemical mines, stone and gravel quarries, mineral mines, peat mines,
natural gas wells, and the like.
600 Industrial, utility, defense, agriculture, mining, other.

Manufacturing, Processing
700 Manufacturing, processing. Properties where there is mechanical or chemical
transformation of inorganic or organic substances into new products. Includes
factories making products of all kinds and properties devoted to operations such as
processing, assemblies, mixing, packing, finishing or decorating, and repairing.

Storage
807 Outside material storage area.
808 Outbuilding or shed. Includes tool and contractor sheds. Excludes contractor field
offices (599).
816 Grain elevator, silo.
819 Livestock, poultry storage. Includes barns, stockyards, and animal pens.
839 Refrigerated storage. Includes storage lockers.
849 Outside storage tank.
880 Vehicle storage, other. Includes airplane and boat hangars. Excludes parking
garages (881, 882).
881 Parking garage, detached residential garage. Includes detached parking structures
associated with multifamily housing. If the garage is attached to the residence, use
the 400 series.
882 Parking garage, general vehicle. Includes bus, truck, fleet, or commercial parking
structures.
888 Fire station.
891 Warehouse. Includes all general storage facilities. Excludes refrigerated storage
(839).
898 Dock, marina, pier, wharf. Includes associated passenger facilities.
899 Residential storage or self-storage units. Includes mini-storage units.
800 Storage, other.

Outside or Special Property

919 Dump, sanitary landfill. Includes recycling collection points.
921 Bridge, trestle.
922 Tunnel.
926 Outbuilding, protective shelter. Includes toll booths, weather shelters, mailboxes,
telephone booths, privies, charitable collection boxes, and aerial tramways.
Excludes parking garages.
931 Open land or field. Includes grasslands and brushlands. Excludes crops or areas
under cultivation.
935 Campsite with utilities. Includes parks for camping trailers or recreational vehicles.
936 Vacant lot. Undeveloped land, not paved, may include incidental untended plant
growth or building materials or debris.
937 Beach.
938 Graded and cared-for plots of land. Includes parks, cemeteries, golf courses, and
residential yards.
941 Open ocean, sea, or tidal waters. Includes ports. Excludes piers and wharves (898).
946 Lake, river, stream.
940 Water area, other.

The denotes a required field. 3–52 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Basic Module - K

951 Railroad right-of-way. Includes light rail or rapid transit when their right-of-way usage
is exclusive (i.e., not part of the street).
952 Railroad yard, switch or classification area.
961 Highway or divided highway. Includes limited-access highways with few
intersections or at grade crossings.
962 Residential street, road, or residential driveway.
963 Street or road in commercial area.
965 Vehicle parking area. Excludes parking garages (882). Includes paved non-
residential driveways.
960 Street, other.
972 Aircraft runway.
973 Aircraft taxiway. Includes all aircraft operation areas other than runways and aircraft
loading areas (974).
974 Aircraft loading area. Includes helipads and helistops.
981 Construction site. Excludes buildings under construction or demolition. Buildings or
structures under construction or demolition should be classified by their proposed or
former use.
982 Oil or gas field.
983 Pipeline, power line, or other utility right-of-way.
984 Industrial plant yard area, not outdoor storage.
900 Outside or special property, other.
000 Property use, other.
NNN None.
UUU Undetermined.

SECTION K K

The entries for Section K are for identifying both the property occupant and the property owner
involved in the incident. One completed example is presented at the end of Block K1 that shows
all the field entries for both Blocks K1 and K2.

K1 Person/Entity Involved
Business Name
Definition
The full name of the company or agency occupying, managing, or leasing the property where
the incident occurred.

Purpose
This element provides a basis for long-term analysis in recognizing patterns of repeated fires
in the same or different locations over a period of time. The business name is required at the
local government level to establish an official document of record.

Entry
Enter the full name of the company or agency occupying the property where the incident
occurred. This may or may not be the same as the owner.

The denotes a required field. 3–53 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Basic Module - K

Example
A fire in the rear office of Rex Associates.

Telephone
Definition
The telephone number of the person or entity involved in the incident.

Purpose
This field collects additional information on the person or entity involved, which may be
required at a later date.

Entry
Enter the area code and telephone number in the spaces provided.

Example
Rex Associates’ telephone number is 828–867–5309.

Person Involved
Definition
The full name of the person involved in the incident. If an entity, enter the name under
Business Name at the top of Block K1.

Purpose
This information provides a basis for long-term analysis in recognizing patterns of repeated
incidents in the same or different locations over a period of time. The name of the person
involved is required at the local government level to establish an official document of record.

Entry
Enter the full name of the person as normally written. Enter the name using the format: prefix,
first name, middle initial, last name, and suffix. If the name is unknown, several available
resources may be checked for this information, such as street directory publications, utility
company records, or other public agencies. Leave blank if unknown. Name prefixes and suf-
fixes are as follows:

Name Prefix Name Suffix

MR Mr. JR Junior
MRS Mrs. SR Senior
MS Ms. I The First
DR Doctor II The Second
REV Reverend III The Third
IV The Fourth
MD Medical Doctor
DDS Doctor of Dental Science

Example
The manager’s name is Mr. Morgan I. Teal, Jr.

The denotes a required field. 3–54 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Basic Module - K

Address
Definition
The address of the person or entity involved in the incident.

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity
involved in the incident. The incident address is required at the local government level to
establish an official document of record.

Entry
Enter the address where the person or entity involved in the incident can be contacted. The
full address includes the street number, prefix, street or highway name, street type, and suffix.
(For a more detailed explanation of the address components, see Section B of this module.)

Example
The manager who reported and attempted to put out the fire lives at 1001 Wilson Street.

Post Office Box (P.O. Box)

Definition
The number of a rented compartment in a post office for the storage of mail that is picked up
by the business occupant.

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity
involved in the incident. The incident address is required at the local government level to
establish an official document of record.

Entry
Enter the post office box number in the spaces provided. Leave blank if not applicable.

Apartment, Suite, or Room

Definition
The number of the specific apartment, suite, or room where the incident occurred.

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity
involved in the incident. The incident address is required at the local government level to
establish an official document of record.

Entry
Enter the apartment, suite, or room number in the block. Leave blank if not applicable.

Example
The manager’s apartment was 2–B.

The denotes a required field. 3–55 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Basic Module - K

City
Definition
The city where the person or entity involved in the incident lives.

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity
involved in the incident. The incident address is required at the local government level to
establish an official document of record.

Entry
Enter the city associated with the person’s or entity’s address.

Example
The manager lived in Asheville.

State
Definition
The state or U.S. territory where the person or entity involved in the incident lives.

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity
involved in the incident, and provides a means of linking fire incident data to other geo-
graphic and population factors for comparative analysis at the local or state level.

Entry
Enter the abbreviation for the state or U.S. territory associated with the person’s or entity’s
address.

Example
Asheville is in North Carolina and is entered as NC.

. A list of state/territory abbreviations is on page 3–5.

ZIP Code
Definition
A numerical code assigned by the U.S. Postal Service to all jurisdictions within the United
States and U.S. Territories.

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity
involved in the incident, and provides a means of linking fire incident data to other geo-
graphic and population factors for comparative analysis at the local or state level.

The denotes a required field. 3–56 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Basic Module - K

Person/Entity Involved
K1 Local Option
Rex Associates 8 2 8 8 6 7 5 3 0 9
Business Name (if applicable) Area Code Phone Number

Check this box if same M R Morgan I Teal J R

address as incident
Mr., Ms., Mrs. First Name MI Last Name Suffix
Location (Section B).
Then skip the three
duplicate address 1001 Wilson S T
lines. Number Prefix Street or Highway Street Type Suffix

2–B Asheville
Post Office Box Apt./Suite/Room City

N C 2 8 8 0 6
State ZIP Code
More people involved? Check this box and attach Supplemental Forms (NFIRS–1S) as necessary.

Entry
Enter the postal ZIP code for the address of the person or entity involved in the incident.
Include the Plus Four digits of the ZIP code if known.

. If more than one person or entity is involved, mark the box at the bottom of K1 and fill
out and attach Supplemental Forms (NFIRS–1S) as necessary.

Example
The ZIP code for the manager involved is 28806:

K2 Owner
The type of information required for the fields in this block are the same as those in Block K1
above. The example shown in Block K1 is also applicable to the following Block K2 fields.

Business Name
Definition
The full name of the company or agency that owns the property where the incident occurred.

Purpose
This element provides a basis for long-term analysis in recognizing patterns of repeated fires
in the same or different locations over a period of time. The business name is required at the
local government level to establish an official document of record.

Entry
Enter the full name of the company or agency that owns the property where the incident
occurred. If the owner is the same as the person or entity listed in Block K1, check or mark the
box at the top of the K2 block and skip to Section L.

Telephone
Definition
The telephone number of the property owner involved in the incident.

The denotes a required field. 3–57 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Basic Module - K

Purpose
This field collects additional information on the owner of the property involved, which may
be required at a later date.

Entry
Enter the area code and telephone number of the owner in the spaces provided.

Owner Name
Definition
The full name of the person who owns the property where the incident occurred. If an entity,
enter the name under Business Name at the top of Block K2.

Purpose
This information provides a basis for long-term analysis in recognizing patterns of repeated
incidents. The name of the owner of the property involved is required at the local government
level to establish an official document of record.

Entry
Enter the full name of the person as normally written. Enter the name using the format: prefix,
first name, middle initial, last name, and suffix. If the owner name is unknown, several avail-
able resources may be checked for this information, such as street directory publications, util-
ity company records, or other public agencies. Leave blank if unknown.

. Name prefixes and suffixes are listed in Block K1.

Address
Definition
The address of the owner of the property where the incident occurred.

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity who
owns the property involved in the incident. This information is a critical part of the documen-
tation of the incident at the local level and may be used by jurisdictions to help investigate the
cause of the fire and for insurance purposes.

Entry
Enter the address where the owner of the property where the incident occurred can be con-
tacted. The full address includes the street number, prefix, street or highway name, street type,
and suffix. (For a more detailed explanation of the address components, see Section B of this
module.)

Post Office Box (P.O. Box)

Definition
The number of a rented compartment in a post office for the storage of mail that is picked up
by the owner.

The denotes a required field. 3–58 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Basic Module - K

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity who
owns the property involved in the incident. The address is required at the local government
level to establish an official document of record.

Entry
Enter the post office box number in the spaces provided. Leave blank if not applicable.

Apartment, Suite, or Room

Definition
The number of the specific apartment, suite, or room of the owner of the property involved in
the incident.

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity who
owns the property involved in the incident. The address is required at the local government
level to establish an official document of record.

Entry
Enter the apartment, suite, or room number in the block. Leave blank if not applicable.

City
Definition
The city where the owner of the property involved in the incident lives, or the city that is used
in the mailing address if the property is not located within city limits.

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity who
owns the property involved in the incident. The address is required at the local government
level to establish an official document of record.

Entry
Enter the city associated with the owner’s address.

State
Definition
The state or U.S. territory where the owner of the property lives.

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity who
owns the property involved in the incident, and provides a means of linking fire incident data
to other geographic and population factors for comparative analysis at the state level.

The denotes a required field. 3–59 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 L Basic Module - L

Entry
Enter the abbreviation for the state or U.S. territory associated with the owner’s address. If the
owner lives outside the United States or its territories, enter the code for “Other” (OO).

. A list of state/territory abbreviations is on page 3–5.

ZIP Code
Definition
A numerical code assigned by the U.S. Postal Service to all jurisdictions within the United
States.

Purpose
The complete address provides local authorities with the location of the person or entity who
owns the property involved in the incident, and provides a means of linking fire incident data
to other geographic and population factors for comparative analysis at the state level.

Entry
Enter the postal ZIP code associated with the owner’s address. Include the Plus Four digits of
the ZIP code if known.

SECTION L L

L Remarks
The Remarks section is an area for any comments that might be made concerning the incident.
It is also a place to describe what happened, fire department operations, or unusual conditions
encountered. Use this space to describe the incident in your own words. Of particular impor-
tance are observations that could aid investigators. Use additional sheets (i.e., Supplemental
Form (NFIRS–1S)) as necessary. Additional sheets must have Section A at the top of each
sheet completed.

This section also includes an instructional box (paper form only) intended to provide guidance
to the person filling out the report. The block indicates whether a Fire Module or Structure
Fire Module is required according to the Incident Type recorded in Section C of this module.
Fire Module Required?
Check the box that applies and then complete the Fire Module
based on Incident Type, as follows:

Buildings 111 Complete Fire & Structure Modules

Special structure 112 Complete Fire Module &
Section I, Structure Module
Confined 113–118 Basic Module Only
Mobile property 120–123 Complete Fire & Structure Modules
Vehicle 130–138 Complete Fire Module
Vegetation 140–143 Complete Fire or Wildland Module
Outside rubbish fire 150–155 Basic Module Only
Special outside fire 160 Complete Fire or Wildland Module
Special outside fire 161–163 Complete Fire Module
Crop fire 170–173 Complete Fire or Wildland Module

The denotes a required field. 3–60 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Basic Module - M

SECTION M M

Section M requires the identification and signatures of the person completing the incident report
and his/her supervisor. A completed example of the fields used is presented at the end of this
section.

M Authorization
Officer in Charge
Definition
The officer in charge is the ranking fire service person dealing with the incident. Position
refers to the person’s rank, while assignment refers to the job held at the time of the incident.
The date is the day the form is signed.

Purpose
The signature and the date make the report a legal document and indicate a source for further
information on the incident.

Entry
Enter the personnel or ID number as assigned by the fire department, the position, and the
assignment of the officer in charge of the incident. That officer should then sign and date the
report after he/she has reviewed and agreed with the information.

Example
The officer in charge was Captain John Hart.

Member Making Report

If the member making the report is the same as the officer in charge, check or mark the box by
the member ID and skip the rest of Section M.

Definition
The member of the fire department who completed the report.

Purpose
When someone other than the officer in charge completes the report, the signature of that per-
son indicates a source for further information on the incident. In these cases, the officer in
charge should review the completed report and sign it as well.

Entry
Enter the personnel or ID number as assigned by the fire department, the position, and the
assignment of the member completing the report. That member should then sign and date the
report after he/she has reviewed and agreed with the information.

The denotes a required field. 3–61 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Basic Module - M

Example
The person completing the report was Firefighter Kate Ivey:

Authorization
M
1 1 9 9 [Signature by John Hart] Captain Fire suppression 0 1 0 7 2 0 0 2
Check box if Officer in charge ID Signature Position or rank Assignment Month Day Year
same as
Officer in
charge. 2 1 0 7 [Signature by Kate Ivey] Firefighter Fire suppression 0 1 0 7 2 0 0 2
Member making report ID Signature Position or rank Assignment Month Day Year

The denotes a required field. 3–62 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 Basic Module
(NFIRS–1)

Fire Module
(NFIRS–2)

Chapter 4
Structure Fire Module
FIRE MODULE (NFIRS–3)

(NFIRS–2)
Civilian Fire
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–4)

Fire Service
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–5)

EMS Module
State NFIRS (NFIRS–6)
Reporting Authority

HazMat Module
(NFIRS–7)

U.S. Fire Administration

NATIONAL FIRE DATA CENTER
Wildland Fire
Module (NFIRS–8)

Apparatus/
Personnel Modules
(NFIRS–9/–10)

Arson Module
(NFIRS–11)
 Fire Module

MM DD YYYY NFIRS–2
A Delete
Fire
FDID Incident Date Station Incident Number Change
State Exposure

Property Details On-Site Materials Complete if there were any significant amounts of
B C or Products None
commercial, industrial, energy, or agricultural products or
or materials on the property, whether or not they became involved
Enter up to three codes. Check one box for each code On-Site Materials
entered. Storage Use
B1 Not Residential
Estimated number of residential living units in 1 Bulk storage or warehousing
building of origin whether or not all units 2 Processing or manufacturing
3 Packaged goods for sale
became involved 4 Repair or service
On-site material (1) U Undetermined

B2 Number of buildings involved

Buildings not involved 1
2
Bulk storage or warehousing
Processing or manufacturing
3 Packaged goods for sale
4 Repair or service
On-site material (2) U Undetermined

None
B3 ,
Acres burned (outside fires) Less than one acre
1
2
Bulk storage or warehousing
Processing or manufacturing
3 Packaged goods for sale
On-site material (3)
4 Repair or service
U Undetermined

Ignition Cause of Ignition Human Factors

D E1 Check box if this is an exposure report.
Skip to E3 Contributing to Ignition
Section G
Check all applicable boxes
D1 1 Intentional None
Area of fire origin 2 Unintentional 1 Asleep
3 Failure of equipment or heat source 2 Possibly impaired by
4 Act of nature alcohol or drugs
D2 Heat source 5 Cause under investigation 3 Unattended person
U Cause undetermined after investigation 4 Possibly mentally disabled
5 Physically disabled
D3 E2
Factors Contributing to Ignition None
6 Multiple persons involved
Item first ignited Check box if fire spread was
1 confined to object of origin.
7 Age was a factor

D4 Factor contributing to ignition (1) Estimated age of

person involved
Type of material first ignited Required only if item first
ignited code is 00 or <70
Factor contributing to ignition (2) 1 Male 2 Female

Equipment Involved in Ignition Equipment Power Source Fire Suppression Factors None
F1 F2 G
Enter up to three codes.
None If equipment was not involved, skip to
Section G
Equipment Power Source

Fire suppression factor (1)

Equipment Involved Equipment Portability
Brand
F3
1 Portable
Model Fire suppression factor (2)
2 Stationary
Serial #
Portable equipment normally can be moved by
one or two persons, is designed to be used in
Year multiple locations, and requires no tools to install. Fire suppression factor (3)

Mobile Property Involved None Mobile Property Type and Make Local Use
H1 H2
Pre-Fire Plan Available
Not involved in ignition, but burned Some of the information presented in this report may be
1
based upon reports from other agencies:
Mobile property type
2 Involved in ignition, but did not burn
3 Involved in ignition and burned
Arson report attached
Mobile property make Police report attached
Coroner report attached
Mobile property model Year Other reports attached

License Plate Number State VIN

Structure fire? Please be sure to complete the Structure Fire form (NFIRS–3).
NFIRS–2 Revision 01/01/05

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–2 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A Fire Module - A

CHAPTER 4

FIRE MODULE (NFIRS–2)

he Fire Module (NFIRS–2) is completed for incidents involving a noncontained fire. Each
T section or block in the Fire Module asks for information on particular types of fires or items
involved in the fire.

This module should be completed for Incident Types 111, 112, 120–143, 160–173, and 170–173
found in Section C of the Basic Module. The optional Wildland Fire Module may be used instead
of the Fire Module for Incident Types 140–143, 160, 170–173, 631, and 632. Users may also
optionally complete the Fire Module for confined fires (Incident Types 113–118), although it is
not required.

SECTION A A

The guidance and directions for completing Section A of the Fire Module are the same as for Sec-
tion A in the Basic Module. It is stressed that the entries in Section A of the Fire Module must be
identical with the entries on the corresponding Basic Module. An example of a completed Section
A can be found on page 3–8.

A Fire Department Identification (FDID) 3

Entry
Enter the same FDID number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

State 3
Entry
Enter the same state abbreviation found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Incident Date 3
Entry
Enter the same incident date found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Station Number
Entry
Enter the same station number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–3 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Fire Module - B

Incident Number 3
Entry
Enter the same incident number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Exposure Number 3
Entry
Enter the same exposure number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Delete/Change
Definition
Indicates a change to information submitted on a previous Fire Module or the deletion of an
incorrect report.

Purpose
To delete or correct previously reported information.

Entry
Delete: Check or mark this box when you have previously submitted data on this incident and
now want to have the data on this incident deleted from the database. If this box is marked,
complete Section A and leave the rest of the report blank. This will delete all data regarding
the incident. Forward the report according to your normally established procedures.

Change: Check or mark this box only if you previously submitted this fire incident to your
state reporting authority and now want to update or change the information in the state data-
base. Complete Section A and any other sections or blocks that need to be updated or cor-
rected. If you need to blank a field that contains data, you must resubmit the original module
containing the newly blanked field along with all the other original information in the module
for that incident. This action is required only when sending an updated module to your state
reporting authority. Forward the report according to your normally established procedures.

SECTION B B

Property Details
Section B collects details about the specific property involved in the fire, whether a structure or an
open piece of land.

B1 Number of Residential Living Units

Definition
The estimated total number of residential living units in the building of origin, whether or not
all of the units became involved in the fire.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–4 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Fire Module - B

. This field is required when the Property Use on the Basic Module (Section J) is coded in
the 400s.

Purpose
This information permits analysis of the fire problem by specific property use details. Infor-
mation on the number of residential living units in the fire building provides a measure of the
potential human exposure and can assist in targeting fire prevention and suppression pro-
grams.

Entry
Enter the estimated total number of residential living units in the building of origin, whether
or not all the units became involved or were occupied at the time of the fire. If the fire did not
occur in a residential property, check or mark the Not Residential box.

One- and two-family dwelling: Enter 1 or 2 as appropriate.

Apartment buildings, condominiums, townhouses, and rowhouses: Enter the number of

separately owned or rented units in the building of origin.

Hotels and motels: Enter the number of lodging units in the building of origin.

Dormitories, rooming houses, and live-in-care centers: Enter the number of beds.

Example
For an apartment fire in a high-rise building with 100 total apartments, enter “100” for the
number of residential living units:
Property Details
B
1 0 0
B1 Not Residential
Estimated number of residential living units in
building of origin whether or not all units
became involved

B2 Number of buildings involved

Buildings not involved

None
B3 ,
Acres burned (outside fires) Less than one acre

B2 Number of Buildings Involved

Definition
The number of buildings directly involved in the fire. Each building involved in the fire
should be documented as a separate exposure.

Purpose
This element helps measure the size of the fire, which can assist with analyzing issues such as
exposure protection and building density.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–5 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Fire Module - B

Entry
Enter the total number of buildings involved in the fire. If the fire was confined to the building
of origin, enter a “1.” If no buildings were involved, check or mark the Buildings Not
Involved box.

Example
For a fire in a single-family house that extended to a neighboring house due to radiant heat
transmission, enter “2” for the number of buildings involved:
Property Details
B
1
B1 Not Residential
Estimated number of residential living units in
building of origin whether or not all units
became involved

2
B2 Number of buildings involved
Buildings not involved

None
B3 ,
Acres burned (outside fires) Less than one acre

B3 Number of Acres Burned (outside fires)

Definition
The estimated number of acres burned in the fire incident.

Purpose
The outside fire situation can be assessed by examining the extent of the property involved.
Information on the number of acres burned can assist in targeting fire prevention programs
and planning fire suppression activities.

Entry
Enter the total number of acres burned in the fire. If it was not a brush/grass fire, or no acres
were burned, or less than one acre burned, check or mark the appropriate box.

Example
For a fire that burned approximately 10 acres of a field, enter “10”:
Property Details
B

B1 x Not Residential
Estimated number of residential living units in
building of origin whether or not all units
became involved

B2 x Buildings not involved

Number of buildings involved

1 0 None
B3 ,
Acres burned (outside fires)
Less than one acre

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–6 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Fire Module - C

SECTION C C

C On-Site Materials or Products and On-Site Materials Storage Use

Definition
Identifies any significant amounts of commercial, industrial, energy, or agricultural products
or materials on the property, whether or not they became involved in the fire.

. If a Property Use in the 500s, 600s, 700s, or 800s was listed in Block J of the Basic Mod-
ule, then this field is required. This field may also be useful for other property uses.

Purpose
This element permits analysis of the fire problem by the materials and products present on the
property involved in the fire. Information on materials and products present can assist in tar-
geting fire prevention and suppression programs and identifying training and equipment
needs.

Entry
Enter the three-digit codes and descriptions for up to three of the most significant on-site
materials or products, whether or not they became involved in the fire. Check or mark the
Undetermined box if the on-site material is unknown. If there is no on-site material, check or
mark the None box and go to Block D.

For each material or product entered, check or mark the box to the right that best describes
whether the material is being stored, processed or manufactured, sold, or repaired or serviced
on the property (required whenever an On-Site Material or Product entry is made).

. Storage incidental to a retail or industrial operation does not have to be reported sepa-
rately. Bulk storage or warehousing is generally associated with storage of large quanti-
ties of raw material awaiting transformation into a finished product or storage of finished
products awaiting shipment for sale or final use.

Example
A lumberyard involved in the fire incident was coded as an outside material storage area in
Section J of the Basic Module (Property Use code 807); enter “311” Lumber as the on-site
material or product:

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–7 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Fire Module - C

Complete if there were any significant amounts of

commercial, industrial, energy, or agricultural products or
On-Site Materials materials on the property, whether or not they became involved
C or Products
None
On-Site Materials
Enter up to three codes. Check one or more boxes for each code
Storage Use
entered.
1 x Bulk storage or warehousing
2 Processing or manufacturing
3 1 1 Lumber, sawed wood 3 Packaged goods for sale
On-site material (1) 4 Repair or service
U Undetermined

1 Bulk storage or warehousing

2 Processing or manufacturing
3 Packaged goods for sale
4 Repair or service
On-site material (2) k U Undetermined

1 Bulk storage or warehousing

2 Processing or manufacturing
3 Packaged goods for sale
4 Repair or service
On-site material (3) U Undetermined

. An alphabetized synonym list for the following On-Site Materials or Products codes is
presented in Appendix B.

ON-SITE MATERIALS OR PRODUCTS CODES

Food, Beverages, Agriculture

Food
111 Baked goods.
112 Meat products. Includes poultry and fish.
113 Dairy products.
114 Produce, fruit, or vegetables.
115 Sugar, spices.
116 Deli products.
117 Cereals, grains; packaged.
118 Fat/cooking grease. Includes lard and animal fat.
110 Food, other.
Beverages
121 Alcoholic beverage.
122 Nonalcoholic beverage.
120 Beverages, other.
Agriculture
131 Trees, plants, flowers.
132 Feed, grain, seed.
133 Hay, straw.
134 Crop, not grain.
135 Livestock.
136 Pets.
137 Pesticides.
138 Fertilizer.
130 Agriculture, other.
Food, beverages, agriculture, other
100 Foods, beverages, agriculture, other.

Personal and Home Products

Fabrics
211 Curtains, drapes.
212 Linens.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–8 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Fire Module - C

213 Bedding.
214 Cloth, yarn, dry goods.
210 Fabrics, other.
Wearable products
221 Clothes.
222 Footwear.
223 Eyeglasses.
225 Perfumes, colognes, cosmetics.
226 Toiletries.
220 Wearable products, other.
Accessories
231 Jewelry, watches.
232 Luggage, suitcases.
233 Purses, satchels, briefcases, wallets, belts, backpacks.
230 Accessories, other.
Furnishings
240 Furnishings, other.
241 Furniture.
242 Beds, mattresses.
243 Clocks.
244 Housewares.
245 Glass, ceramics, china, pottery, stoneware, earthenware.
246 Silverware.
Personal and home products, other
200 Personal and home products, other.

Raw Materials
Wood
311 Lumber, sawn wood.
312 Timber.
313 Cork.
314 Pulp
315 Sawdust, wood chips.
310 Wood, other.
Fibers
321 Cotton.
322 Wool.
323 Silk.
320 Fibers, other.
Animal skins
331 Leather.
332 Fur.
330 Animal skins, other.
Other raw materials
341 Ore.
342 Rubber.
343 Plastics.
344 Fiberglass.
345 Salt.
300 Raw materials, other

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–9 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Fire Module - C

Paper Products, Rope

Paper products
411 Newspaper, magazines.
412 Books.
413 Greeting cards.
414 Paper, rolled
415 Cardboard.
416 Packaged paper products. Includes stationery.
417 Paper records or reports.
410 Paper products, other.
Rope, twine, cordage
421 Rope, twine, cordage.
Paper products, rope, other
400 Paper products, rope, other.

Flammables, Chemicals, Plastics

Flammables, combustible liquids
511 Gasoline, diesel fuel.
512 Flammable liquid. Excludes gasoline (511).
513 Combustible liquid. Includes heating oil. Excludes diesel fuel (511).
514 Motor oil.
515 Heavy oils, grease, noncooking related.
516 Asphalt.
517 Adhesive, resin, tar.
510 Flammables, combustible liquids, other.
Flammable gases
521 Natural gas.
522 LP gas, butane, propane.
523 Hydrogen gas.
520 Flammable gases, other.
Solid fuel, coal type
531 Charcoal.
532 Coal.
533 Peat.
534 Coke.
530 Solid fuel, coal type, other.
Chemicals, drugs
541 Hazardous chemicals.
542 Nonhazardous chemicals.
543 Cleaning supplies.
544 Pharmaceuticals, drugs.
545 Illegal drugs.
540 Chemicals, drugs, other.
Radioactive materials
551 Radioactive materials.
Flammables, chemicals, plastics, other
500 Flammables, chemicals, plastics, other.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–10 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Fire Module - C

Construction, Machinery, Metals

Machinery, tools
611 Industrial machinery.
612 Machine parts.
613 Tools (power and hand tools).
610 Machinery, tools, other.
Construction supplies
621 Hardware products.
622 Construction and home improvement products. Excludes pipes and fittings
(623), electrical parts and supplies (626), insulation (627), lumber (311).
623 Pipes, fittings.
624 Stone-working materials.
625 Lighting fixtures and lamps.
626 Electrical parts, supplies, equipment. Excludes light fixtures (625).
627 Insulation.
628 Abrasives. Includes sandpaper and grinding materials.
629 Fencing, fence supplies.
620 Construction supplies, other.
Floor and wall coverings
631 Carpets, rugs.
632 Linoleum, tile.
633 Ceramic tile.
634 Wallpaper.
635 Paint.
630 Floor and wall coverings, other.
Metal products
641 Steel, iron products.
642 Nonferrous metal products. Includes aluminum products (no combustible
metals).
643 Combustible metal products. Includes magnesium and titanium.
640 Metal products, other.
Construction, machinery, metals, other
.600 Construction, machinery, metals, other.

Appliances, Electronics, Medical, Laboratory

Appliances, electronics
711 Appliances. Includes refrigerators, stoves, irons.
712 Electronic parts, supplies, equipment. Includes components such as circuit
boards, radios, computers.
713 Electronic media. Includes diskettes, CD-ROMs, recorded music.
714 Photographic equipment, supplies, materials. Includes cameras, film.
Excludes digital electronic cameras (712) and electronic storage media
(713).
710 Appliances, electronics, other.
Medical, laboratory products
721 Dental supplies.
722 Medical supplies. Includes surgical products.
723 Optical products.
724 Veterinary supplies.
725 Laboratory supplies.
720 Medical, laboratory products, other.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–11 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Fire Module - C

Appliances, electronics, medical, laboratory, other

700 Appliances, electronics, medical, laboratory, other.

Vehicles, Vehicle Parts

Motor vehicles and parts
811 Autos, trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, riding mowers, farm vehicles.
812 Construction vehicles.
813 Motor vehicle parts. Excludes tires (814).
814 Tires.
810 Motor vehicles and parts, other.
Watercraft
821 Boats, ships.
820 Watercraft, other.
Aircraft
830 Aircraft, other.
831 Planes, airplanes.
832 Helicopters.
Rail
841 Trains, light rail, rapid transit cars.
842 Rail equipment.
840 Rail, other.
Non-motorized vehicles
851 Bicycles, tricycles, unicycles. Includes tandem bicycles.
850 Non-motorized vehicles, other.

Other Products
Containers, packing materials
911 Bottles, barrels, boxes.
912 Packing material.
913 Pallets.
910 Containers, packing materials, other.
Previously owned products
921 Antiques.
922 Collectibles.
923 Used merchandise.
920 Previously owned products, other.
Ordnance, explosives, fireworks
931 Guns.
932 Ammunition.
933 Explosives
934 Fireworks, commercially made.
935 Rockets, missiles.
930 Ordnance, explosives, fireworks, other.
Recreation, arts products
941 Musical instruments.
942 Hobby, crafts. Excludes artwork (943).
943 Art supply/artwork. Includes finished works, paint, finishing materials.
944 Sporting goods. Includes balls, nets, rackets, protective equipment used in
sport.
945 Camping, hiking, outdoor products. Includes related equipment such as
portable stoves, rope.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–12 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Module - D

946 Games, toys.

940 Recreation, arts products, other.
Mixed sales products
951 Office supplies.
952 Restaurant supplies. Excludes food (110 series).
950 Mixed sales products, other.
Discarded material
961 Junkyard materials.
962 Recyclable materials. Includes materials gathered specifically for the
purpose of recycling.
960 Discarded material, other.
963 Trash, not recyclable.

Other On-Site Materials

000 On-site materials, other.
NNN None.
UUU Undetermined.

ON-SITE MATERIALS STORAGE USE CODES

1 Bulk storage or warehousing.

2 Processing or manufacturing.
3 Packaged goods for sale.
4 Repair or service.
N None.
U Undetermined.

SECTION D D

Ignition
Section D is intended to collect data on several factors related to the ignition of the fire including
the area of fire origin, heat source, item first ignited, and type of material first ignited.

D1 Area of Fire Origin 3

Definition
The primary use of the area where the fire started within the property. The area of origin may
be a room, a portion of a room, a vehicle, a portion of a vehicle, or an open area devoted to a
specific use. Every fire has an area of fire origin.

Purpose
Combined with data on the fire’s ignition, knowing the area where the fire originated assists
in determining the cause of the fire. Such information is useful for targeting fire prevention,
investigation, and suppression efforts.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–13 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Module - D

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description that best describes the area of fire origin.

. For chimney fires, the area of fire origin is classified as the first area where ignition
occurred. For example, if the chimney is associated with a fireplace in the family room,
the code would be “14.” The chimney is considered the Equipment Involved in Ignition
(Section F).

Example
A fire started in a bedroom (21) of a home:

Ignition
D
D1 2 1 Bedroom
Area of fire origin

D2
Heat source

D3
Item first ignited 1 Check box if fire spread was
confined to object of origin.

D4
Type of material first ignited Required only if item first
ignited code is 00 or <70

. An alphabetized synonym list for the following Area of Fire Origin codes is presented in
Appendix B.

AREA OF FIRE ORIGIN CODES

Means of Egress
01 Hallway corridor, mall.
02 Exterior stairway. Includes fire escapes, exterior ramps.
03 Interior stairway or ramp. Includes interior ramps.
04 Escalator: exterior, interior.
05 Entranceway, lobby.
09 Egress/exit, other.

Assembly or Sales Areas (Groups of People)

11 Arena, assembly area with fixed seats for 100 or more people. Includes auditoriums,
chapels, places of worship, classrooms, lecture halls, arenas, theaters.
12 Assembly area without fixed seats for 100 or more people. Includes ballrooms,
bowling alleys, gymnasiums, multiuse areas, roller or ice skating rinks.
13 Assembly area without fixed seats for less than 100 people. Includes meeting
rooms, classrooms, multiuse areas.
14 Common room, den, family room, living room, lounge, music room, recreation room,
sitting room.
15 Sales area, showroom. Excludes display windows (56).
16 Art gallery, exhibit hall, library.
17 Swimming pool.
10 Assembly or sales areas, other.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–14 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Module - D

Function Areas
21 Bedroom for less than five people. Includes jail or prison cells, lockups, patient
rooms, sleeping areas.
22 Bedroom for more than five people. Includes barracks, dormitories, patient wards.
23 Bar area, beverage service area, cafeteria, canteen area, dining room, lunchroom,
mess hall.
24 Cooking area, kitchen.
25 Bathroom, checkroom, lavatory, locker room, powder room, outhouse, portable
toilet, sauna area.
26 Laundry area, wash house (laundry).
27 Office.
28 Personal service area. Includes barber/beauty salon area, exercise/health club,
massage area.
20 Function areas, other.

Technical Processing Areas

31 Laboratory.
32 Dark room, photography area, printing area.
33 Treatment: first-aid area, surgery area (minor procedures).
34 Surgery area: major operations, operating room or theater, recovery room.
35 Computer room, control room or center, data processing center, electronic
equipment area, telephone booth or area, radar room.
36 Stage area: performance, basketball court, boxing ring, dressing room (backstage),
ice rink.
37 Projection room, spotlight area, stage light area.
38 Processing/manufacturing area, workroom, assembly area.
30 Technical processing areas, other.

Storage Areas
41 Storage room, area, tank, bin. Includes all areas where products are held awaiting
process, shipment, use, sale.
42 Closet.
43 Storage: supplies or tools. Includes dead storage, maintenance supply room, tool
room, basement (unfinished).
44 Records storage room, storage vault.
45 Shipping/receiving area: loading area, dock or bay, mail room, packing area.
46 Chute/container: trash, rubbish, waste. Includes compactor and garbage areas.
Excludes incinerators (64).
47 Vehicle storage area: garage, carport.
40 Storage areas, other.

Service Areas
51 Dumbwaiter or elevator shaft.
52 Conduit, pipe, utility, or ventilation shaft.
53 Light shaft.
54 Chute. Includes laundry or mail chutes. Excludes trash chutes (46).
55 Duct. Includes HVAC, cable, exhaust.
56 Display window.
58 Conveyor.
50 Service areas, other.

Service or Equipment Areas

61 Machinery room or area. Includes elevator machinery room, engine room, head
house, pump room, refrigeration room.
62 Heating room or area, water heater area.
63 Switchgear area, transformer vault.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–15 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Module - D

64 Incinerator area.
65 Maintenance shop or area. Includes paint shop, repair shop, welding area,
workshop.
66 Cell, test.
67 Enclosure, pressurized air.
68 Enclosure with enriched oxygen atmosphere.
60 Service or equipment areas, other.

Structural Areas
71 Substructure area or space, crawl space.
72 Exterior balcony, unenclosed porch. Excludes enclosed porches (93)
73 Ceiling and floor assembly, crawl space between stories.
74 Attic: vacant, crawl space above top story. Includes cupola, concealed roof/ceiling
space, steeple.
75 Wall assembly, concealed wall space.
76 Wall surface, exterior.
77 Roof surface, exterior.
78 Awning.
70 Structural areas, other.

Transportation, Vehicle Areas

81 Operator/passenger area of transportation equipment.
82 Cargo/trunk area—all vehicles.
83 Engine area, running gear, wheel area.
84 Fuel tank, fuel line.
85 Separate operator/control area of transportation equipment. Includes bridges of
ships, cockpit of planes. Excludes automobile, trucks, buses (81).
86 Exterior, exposed surface.
80 Vehicle areas, other.

Outside Areas
91 Railroad right-of-way: on or near.
92 Highway, parking lot, street: on or near.
93 Courtyard, patio, terrace. Includes screened-in porches. Excludes unenclosed
porches (72).
94 Open area, outside. Includes farmland, fields, lawns, parks, vacant lots.
95 Wildland, woods.
96 Construction/renovation area.
97 Multiple areas.
98 Vacant structural area.
90 Outside areas, other.

Other Area of Fire Origin

00 Area of fire origin, other.
UU Undetermined.

D2 Heat Source 3
. Heat Source was known as Form of Heat of Ignition in NFIRS 4.1.
Definition
The heat source that ignited the Item First Ignited (Block D3) to cause the fire.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–16 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Module - D

Purpose
This information, combined with other factors in the ignition sequence, permits analysis of
how fire start. Also, some heat sources (e.g., cigarettes, lighters) are objects whose frequency
of involvement in fires is of direct interest for fire prevention efforts.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description that best describes the heat source that ignited the
fire.

Example
A discarded cigarette (61) ignited the bed (21):
Ignition
D
D1 2 1 Bedroom
Area of fire origin

D2 6 1 Discarded cigarette
Heat source

D3
Item first ignited 1 Check box if fire spread was
confined to object of origin.

D4
Type of material first ignited Required only if item first
ignited code is 00 or <70

HEAT SOURCE CODES

Operating Equipment
11 Spark, ember, or flame from operating equipment.
12 Radiated or conducted heat from operating equipment.
13 Electrical arcing.
10 Heat from operating equipment, other.

Hot or Smoldering Object

41 Heat, spark from friction. Includes overheated tires.
42 Molten, hot material. Includes molten metal, hot forging, hot glass, hot metal
fragment, brake shoe, hot box, and slag from arc welding operations.
43 Hot ember or ash. Includes hot coals, coke, and charcoal; and sparks or embers
from a chimney that ignite the roof of the same structure. Excludes flying brand,
embers, and sparks (83); and embers accidentally escaping from operating
equipment (11).
40 Hot or smoldering object, other.

Explosives, Fireworks
51 Munitions. Includes bombs, ammunition, and military rockets.
53 Blasting agent, primer cord, black powder fuse. Includes fertilizing agents,
ammonium nitrate, and sodium, potassium, or other chemical agents.
54 Fireworks. Includes sparklers, paper caps, party poppers, and firecrackers.
55 Model and amateur rockets.
56 Incendiary device. Includes Molotov cocktails and arson sets.
50 Explosive, fireworks, other.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–17 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Module - D

Other Open Flame or Smoking Materials

61 Cigarette.
62 Pipe or cigar.
63 Heat from undetermined smoking material.
64 Match.
65 Lighter: cigarette lighter, cigar lighter.
66 Candle.
67 Warning or road flare; fusee.
68 Backfire from internal combustion engine. Excludes flames and sparks from an
exhaust system (11).
69 Flame/torch used for lighting. Includes gas light and gas-/liquid-fueled lantern.
60 Heat from open flame or smoking materials, other.

Chemical, Natural Heat Sources

71 Sunlight. Usually magnified through glass, bottles, etc.
72 Spontaneous combustion, chemical reaction.
73 Lightning discharge.
74 Other static discharge. Excludes electrical arcs (13) or sparks (11).
70 Chemical, natural heat sources, other.

Heat Spread From Another Fire. Excludes operating equipment.

81 Heat from direct flame, convection currents spreading from another fire.
82 Radiated heat from another fire. Excludes heat from exhaust systems of fuel-fired,
fuel-powered equipment (12).
83 Flying brand, ember, spark. Excludes embers, sparks from a chimney igniting the
roof of the same structure (43).
84 Conducted heat from another fire.
80 Heat spread from another fire, other.

Other Heat Sources

97 Multiple heat sources, including multiple ignitions. If one type of heat source was
primarily involved, use that classification.
00 Heat sources, other.
UU Undetermined.

D3 Item First Ignited 3

. Item First Ignited was known as Form of Material Ignited in NFIRS 4.1.
Definition
The use or configuration of the item or material first ignited by the heat source. This block
identifies the first item that had sufficient volume or heat intensity to extend to uncontrolled
or self-perpetuating fire.

Purpose
This data element permits analysis of how fires start and spread. A study of this entry also
helps assess the need for flammability and other materials standards. This information is help-
ful to manufacturers for product improvement, as well as for fire prevention efforts.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description that best describes the item first ignited by the heat
source.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–18 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Module - D

. If fire spread was confined to the object of origin, check or mark the box (1) below the
written entry. This is the only opportunity to enter this code—Confined to Object of
Origin is not an option in Block J2 of the Structure Fire Module.

Example
Fire in a living room fireplace (14) ignited (81) creosote (95) that had built up in the chimney,
causing a fire:
Ignition
D
D1 1 4 Living room fireplace
Area of fire origin

D2 8 1 Fireplace flame, convection

Heat source

D3 9 5 Creosote buildup
Item first ignited Check box if fire spread was
1 confined to object of origin.

D4
Type of material first ignited Required only if item first
ignited code is 00 or <70

. An alphabetized synonym list for the following Item First Ignited codes is presented in
Appendix B.

ITEM FIRST IGNITED CODES

Structural Component, Finish

11 Exterior roof covering, surface, finish.
12 Exterior sidewall covering, surface, finish. Includes eaves.
13 Exterior trim, appurtenances. Includes doors, porches, and platforms.
14 Floor covering or rug/carpet/mat, surface.
15 Interior wall covering. Includes cloth wall coverings, wood paneling, and items
permanently affixed to a wall or door. Excludes curtains and draperies (36) and
decorations (42).
16 Interior ceiling covering or finish. Includes cloth permanently affixed to ceiling and
acoustical tile.
17 Structural member or framing.
18 Thermal, acoustical insulation within wall, partition or floor/ceiling space. Includes
fibers, batts, boards, loose fills.
10 Structural component or finish, other.

Furniture, Utensils. Includes built-in furniture.

21 Upholstered sofa, chair, vehicle seats.
22 Non-upholstered chair, bench.
23 Cabinetry. Includes filing cabinets, pianos, dressers, chests of drawers, desks,
tables, and bookcases. Excludes TV sets, bottle warmers, and appliance housings
(25).
24 Ironing board.
25 Appliance housing or casing.
26 Household utensils. Includes kitchen and cleaning utensils.
20 Furniture, utensils, other.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–19 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Module - D

Soft Goods, Wearing Apparel

31 Mattress, pillow.
32 Bedding: blanket, sheet, comforter. Includes heating pads.
33 Linen, other than bedding. Includes towels and tablecloths.
34 Wearing apparel not on a person.
35 Wearing apparel on a person.
36 Curtain, blind, drapery, tapestry.
37 Goods not made up. Includes fabrics and yard goods.
38 Luggage.
30 Soft goods, wearing apparel, other.

Adornment, Recreational Material, Signs

41 Christmas tree.
42 Decoration.
43 Sign. Includes outdoor signs such as billboards.
44 Chips. Includes wood chips.
45 Toy, game.
46 Awning, canopy.
47 Tarpaulin, tent.
40 Adornment, recreational material, signs, other.

Storage Supplies
51 Box, carton, bag, basket, barrel. Includes wastebaskets.
52 Material being used to make a product. Includes raw materials used as input to a
manufacturing or construction process. Excludes finished products.
53 Pallet, skid (empty). Excludes palletized stock (58).
54 Cord, rope, twine, yarn.
55 Packing, wrapping material.
56 Baled goods or material. Includes bale storage.
57 Bulk storage.
58 Palletized material, material stored on pallets.
59 Rolled, wound material. Includes rolled paper and fabrics.
50 Storage supplies, other.

Liquids, Piping, Filters

61 Atomized, vaporized liquid. Included are aerosols.
62 Flammable liquid/gas (fuel) in or escaping from combustion engines.
63 Flammable liquid/gas in or escaping from final container or pipe before engine or
burner. Includes piping between the engine and the burner.
64 Flammable liquid/gas in or escaping from container or pipe. Excludes engines,
burners, and their fuel systems.
65 Flammable liquid/gas, uncontained. Includes accelerants.
66 Pipe, duct, conduit, hose.
67 Pipe, duct, conduit, or hose covering. Includes insulating materials whether for
acoustical or thermal purposes, and whether inside or outside the pipe, duct,
conduit, or hose.
68 Filter. Includes evaporative cooler pads.
60 Liquids, piping, filters, other.

Organic Materials
71 Agricultural crop. Includes fruits and vegetables.
72 Light vegetation (not crop). Includes grass, leaves, needles, chaff, mulch, and
compost.
73 Heavy vegetation (not crop). Includes trees and brush.
74 Animal, living or dead.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–20 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Module - D

75 Human, living or dead.

76 Cooking materials. Includes edible materials for man or animal. Excludes cooking
utensils (26).
77 Feathers or fur not on a bird or animal, but not processed into a product.
70 Organic materials, other.

General Materials
81 Electrical wire, cable insulation. Do not classify the insulation on the wiring as the
item first ignited unless there were no other materials in the immediate area, such as
might be found in a cable tray or electrical vault.
82 Transformer. Includes transformer fluids.
83 Conveyor belt, drive belt, V-belt.
84 Tire.
85 Railroad ties.
86 Fence, pole.
87 Fertilizer.
88 Pyrotechnics, explosives.

General Materials Continued

91 Book.
92 Magazine, newspaper, writing paper. Includes files.
93 Adhesive.
94 Dust, fiber, lint. Includes sawdust and excelsior.
95 Film, residue. Includes paint, resin, and chimney film or residue and other films and
residues produced as a by-product of an operation.
96 Rubbish, trash, waste.
97 Oily rags.
99 Multiple items first ignited. Use only where there are multiple fires started at
approximately the same time on the same property and more than one item was
initially involved.

Other Items First Ignited

00 Item first ignited, other.
UU Undetermined.

D4 Type of Material First Ignited

. Type of Material First Ignited was known as Type of Material Ignited in NFIRS 4.1.
Definition
The composition of the material in the item first ignited by the heat source. The type of mate-
rial ignited refers to the raw, common, or natural state of the material. The type of material
ignited may be a gas, flammable liquid, chemical, plastic, wood, paper, fabric, or any number
of other materials.

. This field is required only if the Item First Ignited code is “00” or a code less than “70.”
Purpose
This information assists in determining why fires start and spread and their severity. A study
of this entry also helps assess the need for flammability and other material characteristic stan-
dards. This information is important to manufacturers for product improvement, as well as for
fire prevention efforts.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–21 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Module - D

Entry
Enter the code and description that best describes the type of material first ignited by the heat
source.

. Be certain to enter the first material ignited by the heat source. For example, if an arsonist
poured gasoline on a wooden floor, it was the gasoline and not the wood that was the
material first ignited.

. If an insulated wire short circuits, it may be the wire’s insulation that was first ignited; or
it may be the wood studs in the wall, thermal insulation nearby, or another material.

Example
A board game (41) made of cardboard (60) ignited (81) after being left too close to the living
room fireplace (14), causing a fire:
Ignition
D
D1 1 4 Living room fireplace
Area of fire origin

8 1 Fireplace flame, convection

D2
Heat source

D3 4 5 Toy or game
Item first ignited Check box if fire spread was
1 confined to object of origin.

D4 6 0 Wood or paper, other

Type of material first ignited Required only if item first
ignited code is 00 or <70

. An alphabetized synonym list for the following Type of Material First Ignited codes is
presented in Appendix B.

TYPE OF MATERIAL FIRST IGNITED CODES

Flammable Gas
11 Natural gas. Includes methane and marsh gas.
12 LP gas. Includes butane, butane and air mixtures, and propane gas.
13 Anesthetic gas.
14 Acetylene gas
15 Hydrogen.
10 Flammable gas, other. Includes benzene, benzol, carbon disulfide, carbon
monoxide, ethylene, ethylene oxide, and vinyl chloride.

Flammable or Combustible Liquid

21 Ether, pentane-type flammable liquid. Includes all Class 1A flammable liquids.
22 JP–4 jet fuel and methyl-ethyl-ketone-type flammable liquid. Includes all Class 1B
flammable liquids. Excludes gasoline (23).
23 Gasoline.
24 Turpentine, butyl-alcohol-type flammable liquid. Includes all Class IC flammable
liquids.
25 Kerosene; Nos.1 and 2 fuel oil; diesel-type combustible liquid. Includes all Class II
combustible liquids.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–22 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Module - D

26 Cottonseed oil; Nos. 4, 5, and 6 fuel oil; creosote-oil-type combustible liquid.

Includes all Class IIIA combustible liquids.
27 Cooking oil, transformer oil, lubricating oil. Includes all Class IIIB combustible liquids.
20 Flammable or combustible liquid, other.

Volatile Solid or Chemical

31 Fat, grease, butter, margarine, lard, tallow.
32 Petroleum jelly and nonfood grease.
33 Polish, paraffin, wax.
34 Adhesive, resin, tar, glue, asphalt, pitch, soot.
35 Paint, varnish—applied.
36 Combustible metal. Includes magnesium, titanium, and zirconium.
37 Solid chemical. Includes explosives. Excludes liquid chemicals (division 2) and
gaseous chemicals (division 1).
38 Radioactive material.
30 Volatile solid or chemical, other.

Plastics
41 Plastic, regardless of type. Excludes synthetic fibers, coated fabrics, plastic
upholstery.

Natural Product
51 Rubber, tire rubber. Excludes synthetic rubbers (classify as plastics (41)).
52 Cork.
53 Leather.
54 Hay, straw.
55 Grain, natural fiber. Includes cotton, feathers, felt, barley, corn, coconut. Excludes
fabrics and furniture batting (71).
56 Coal, coke, briquettes, peat. Includes briquettes of carbon black and charcoal.
57 Food, starch. Includes flour. Excludes fat or grease (31).
58 Tobacco.
50 Natural product, other. Includes manure.

Wood or Paper – Processed

61 Wood chips, sawdust, wood shavings.
62 Round timber. Includes round posts, poles, and piles.
63 Sawn wood. Includes all finished lumber and wood shingles.
64 Plywood.
65 Fiberboard, particleboard, and hardboard. Includes low-density pressed wood
fiberboard products.
66 Wood pulp, wood fiber.
67 Paper. Includes cellulose, waxed paper, sensitized paper, and ground-up processed
paper and newsprint used as thermal insulation.
68 Cardboard.
60 Wood or paper, processed, other.

Fabric, Textiles, Fur

71 Fabric, fiber, cotton, blends, rayon, wool, finished goods. Includes yarn and canvas.
Excludes fur and silk (74).
74 Fur, silk, other fabric, finished goods. Excludes fabrics listed in Code 71.
75 Wig.
76 Human hair.
77 Plastic-coated fabric. Includes plastic upholstery fabric and other vinyl fabrics.
70 Fabric, textiles, fur, other.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–23 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Fire Module - E

Material Compounded With Oil

81 Linoleum.
82 Oilcloth.
86 Asphalt-treated material. Excludes by-products of combustion, soot, carbon,
creosote (34).
80 Material compounded with oil, other.

Other Material
99 Multiple types of material.
00 Type of material first ignited, other.
UU Undetermined.

SECTION E E

This section deals with the causes and factors that contribute to a fire’s ignition, which are essen-
tial pieces of information in guiding fire prevention efforts.

E1 Cause of Ignition 3
Definition
The general causal factor that resulted in a heat source igniting a combustible material. The
cause could be the result of a deliberate act, mechanical failure, or act of nature.

Purpose
This information is used to determine if further information about the factors related to the
fire’s ignition will be collected later in the module. When combined with other data elements
that make up the fire’s “ignition chain,” if provides critical information about the nature of the
events and the circumstances that caused the fire. This is an important element in understand-
ing the causes of fires.

Entry
Check or mark the box best describing why the heat source and the combustible material were
able to combine to initiate the fire. If this is an exposure report, check or mark the top box in
this block and skip to Section G.

. This is the best determination of the firefighter at the scene and may be changed later as a
result of further investigation or other information.

Example
A house caught fire as a result of a lightning strike on the combustible roof (4):
Cause of Ignition
E1 Check box if this is an exposure report.
Skip to
Section G

1 Intentional
2 Unintentional
3 Failure of equipment or heat source
4 x Act of nature
5 Cause under investigation
U Cause undetermined after investigation

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–24 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Fire Module - E

CAUSE OF IGNITION CODES

1 Intentional. Includes deliberate misuse of heat source or a fire of an incendiary

nature.
2 Unintentional. Includes fires caused by careless, reckless, or accidental acts.
3 Failure of equipment or heat source. Includes mechanical problems.
4 Act of nature. Includes causes related to weather, earthquakes, floods, and animals.
5 Cause under investigation.
0 Cause, other.
U Cause undetermined after investigation.

E2 Factors Contributing to Ignition 3

. Factors Contributing to Ignition was known as Ignition Factors in NFIRS 4.1.
Definition
The contributing factors that allowed the heat source and combustible material to combine to
ignite the fire.

. This field is completed when the Cause of Ignition (Block E1) is “2,” “3,” or “4.”
Purpose
Combined with Cause of Ignition and Human Factors Contribution to Ignition, this informa-
tion explains how and why the fire started. It can also indicate whether a fire is potentially
preventable through public education, code enforcement, or other strategies.

Entry
Enter the two-digit codes and descriptions for up to two contributing factors. The primary fac-
tor should be entered first. If there were no factors contributing to ignition, check or mark the
None box.

Example
A vehicle caught fire immediately after colliding with a garbage truck; enter “51” Collision:
Factors Contributing to Ignition None
E2
5 1 Collision
Factor contributing to ignition (1)

Factor contributing to ignition (2)

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO IGNITION CODES

Misuse of Material or Product

11 Abandoned or discarded materials or products. Includes discarded cigarettes,
cigars, tobacco embers, hot ashes, or other burning matter. Excludes outside fires
left unattended.
12 Heat source too close to combustibles.
13 Cutting, welding too close to combustibles.
14 Flammable liquid or gas spilled. Excludes improper fueling technique (15) and
release due to improper container (18).

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–25 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Fire Module - E

15 Improper fueling technique. Includes overfueling, failure to ground. Excludes fuel

spills (14) and using the improper fuel (27).
16 Flammable liquid used to kindle fire.
17 Washing part or material, painting with flammable liquid.
18 Improper container or storage procedure. Includes gasoline in unimproved
containers, gas containers stored at excessive temperature, and storage conditions
that lead to spontaneous ignition.
19 Playing with heat source. Includes playing with matches, candles, and lighters and
bringing combustibles into a heat source.
10 Misuse of material or product, other.

Mechanical Failure, Malfunction

21 Automatic control failure.
22 Manual control failure.
23 Leak or break. Includes leaks or breaks of containers or pipes. Excludes operational
deficiencies and spill mishaps.
25 Worn out.
26 Backfire. Excludes fires originating as a result of hot catalytic converters (41).
27 Improper fuel used. Includes the use of gasoline in a kerosene heater and the like.
20 Mechanical failure, malfunction, other.

Electrical Failure, Malfunction

31 Water-caused short-circuit arc.
32 Short-circuit arc from mechanical damage.
33 Short-circuit arc from defective, worn insulation.
34 Unspecified short-circuit arc.
35 Arc from faulty contact, broken conductor. Includes broken power lines and loose
connections.
36 Arc, spark from operating equipment, switch, or electric fence.
37 Fluorescent light ballast.
30 Electrical failure, malfunction, other.

Design, Manufacturing, Installation Deficiency

41 Design deficiency.
42 Construction deficiency.
43 Installation deficiency.
44 Manufacturing deficiency.
40 Design, manufacturing, installation deficiency, other.

Operational Deficiency
51 Collision, knock down, run over, turn over. Includes automobiles and other vehicles.
52 Accidentally turned on, not turned off.
53 Equipment unattended.
54 Equipment overloaded.
55 Failure to clean. Includes lint and grease buildups in chimneys, stove pipes.
56 Improper startup/shutdown procedure.
57 Equipment not used for purpose intended. Excludes overloaded equipment (54).
58 Equipment not operated properly.
50 Operational deficiency, other.

Natural Condition
61 High wind.
62 Storm.
63 High water, including floods.
64 Earthquake.
65 Volcanic action.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–26 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Fire Module - E

66 Animal.
60 Natural condition, other.

Fire Spread or Control

71 Exposure fire.
72 Rekindle.
73 Outside/open fire for debris or waste disposal.
74 Outside/open fire for warming or cooking.
75 Agriculture or land management burns. Includes prescribed burns.
70 Fire spread or control, other.

Other Factors Contributing to Ignition

00 Factors contributing to ignition, other.
NN None.
UU Undetermined.

E3 Human Factors Contributing to Ignition 3

Definition
The human condition or situation that allowed the heat source and combustible material to
combine to ignite the fire.

Purpose
Combined with Cause of Ignition and Factors Contributing to Ignition, this element explains
how and why the fire started. It can also indicate whether a fire is potentially preventable
through public education, code enforcement, or other strategies.

Entry
Check or mark all applicable boxes. If age was a factor, enter the estimated age of the person
involved in the space provided. If known, the gender of the person involved should also be
checked or marked. If there were no known human factors contributing to ignition, check or
mark the None box.

Example
An elderly man (1) who was physically disabled (5) and home alone (3) fell asleep (1) in his
chair while smoking. The dropped cigarette contacted combustible materials next to his chair.
The respondent determined that even had the occupant awakened, he would have been unable
to extinguish the fire due to his age (7):

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–27 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Fire Module - F

Human Factors
E3 Contributing to Ignition
Check all applicable boxes None

1 X Asleep
2 Possibly impaired by
alcohol or drugs
3 X Unattended person
4 Possibly mentally disabled
5 X Physically disabled
6 Multiple persons involved

7 X Age was a factor

Estimated age of
person involved
8 8

1 X Male 2 Female

HUMAN FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO IGNITION CODES

1 Asleep. Includes fires that result from a person falling asleep while smoking.
2 Possibly impaired by alcohol or drugs. Includes people who fall asleep or act
recklessly or carelessly as a result of drugs or alcohol. Excludes people who simply
fall asleep (1).
3 Unattended or unsupervised person. Includes “latch key” situations whether the
person involved is young or old and situations where the person involved lacked
supervision or care.
4 Possibly mentally disabled. Excludes impairments of a temporary nature such as
those caused by drugs or alcohol (2).
5 Physically disabled.
6 Multiple persons involved. Includes gang activity.
7 Age was a factor.
N None.

AGE FACTOR GENDER CODES

1 Male.
2 Female.

SECTION F F

This section identifies the equipment where the heat of ignition originated, the power source that
actually operated the equipment, and whether the equipment is normally stationary or is designed
to move from location to location.

. The three blocks in this section—Equipment Involved in Ignition, Equipment Power

Source, and Equipment Portability—were collectively known as Equipment Involved in
Ignition in NFIRS 4.1.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–28 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Fire Module - F

Equipment Involved in Ignition

F1 Equipment Type
Definition
The piece of equipment that provided the principal heat source to cause ignition.

Purpose
Analysis of the equipment involved in ignition is useful for improving product safety and pre-
ventive maintenance. It is just as important to know the kind of equipment that was used
improperly as it is to know the kind of equipment that malfunctioned. Misuse can be the direct
result of the way the equipment is designed and constructed. When involved in ignition,
equipment information provides an important part of the causal data. Equipment involved in
ignition can be compared to other causal data to determine if the equipment was (or was not)
operating properly.

Entry
Enter the three-digit code and description that best describes the equipment involved in
ignition. If no equipment was involved, check or mark the None box and skip to Section G.

. If a vehicle was involved in ignition, use Section H.

Example
A fire started by a short circuit in a dryer (811):
Equipment Involved in Ignition
F1
If equipment was not involved, skip to
None Section G

8 1 1 Clothes dryer
Equipment Involved

Brand

Model

Serial #

Year

. An alphabetized synonym list for the following Equipment Involved in Ignition codes is
presented in Appendix B.

EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IN IGNITION CODES

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

111 Air conditioner.
112 Heat pump.
113 Fan.
114 Humidifier, non-heat producing. Excludes heaters with built-in humidifiers (131,
132).
115 Ionizer.
116 Dehumidifier, portable.
117 Evaporative cooler, cooling tower.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–29 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Fire Module - F

121 Fireplace, masonry.

122 Fireplace, factory-built.
123 Fireplace, insert/stove.
124 Stove, heating.
125 Chimney connector, vent connector.
126 Chimney: brick, stone, masonry.
127 Chimney: metal. Includes stovepipes and flues.
120 Fireplace, chimney, other.
131 Furnace, local heating unit, built-in. Includes built-in humidifiers. Excludes process
furnaces, kilns (353).
132 Furnace, central heating unit. Includes built-in humidifiers. Excludes process
furnaces, kilns. (353)
133 Boiler (power, process, heating).
141 Heater. Includes floor furnaces, wall heaters, and baseboard heaters. Excludes
catalytic heaters (142), oil-filled heaters (143), hot water heaters (152).
142 Heater, catalytic.
143 Heater, oil-filled. Excludes kerosene heaters (141).
144 Heat lamp.
145 Heat tape.
151 Water heater. Includes sink-mounted instant hot water heaters and waterbed
heaters.
152 Steam line, heat pipe, hot air duct. Includes radiators and hot water baseboard
heaters.
100 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, other.

Electrical Distribution, Lighting, and Power Transfer

211 Electrical power (utility) line. Excludes wires from the utility pole to the structure.
212 Electrical service supply wires; wires from utility pole to meter box.
213 Electric meter, meter box.
214 Electrical wiring from meter box to circuit breaker board, fuse box, or panel board.
215 Panel board (fuse); switchboard, circuit breaker board with or without ground-fault
interrupter
216 Electrical branch circuit. Includes armored (metallic) cable, nonmetallic sheathing, or
wire in conduit.
217 Outlet, receptacle. Includes wall-type receptacles, electric dryer and stove
receptacles.
218 Wall-type switch. Includes light switches.
219 Ground-fault interrupter (GFI), portable, plug-in.
210 Electrical wiring, other.
221 Transformer, distribution-type.
222 Overcurrent, disconnect equipment. Excludes panel boards.
223 Transformer, low-voltage (not more than 50 volts).
224 Generator.
225 Inverter.
226 Uninterrupted power supply (UPS).
227 Surge protector.
228 Battery charger, rectifier.
229 Battery. Includes all battery types.
231 Lamp: tabletop, floor, desk. Excludes halogen fixtures (235) and light bulbs (238).
232 Lantern, flashlight.
233 Incandescent lighting fixture.
234 Fluorescent lighting fixture, ballast.
235 Halogen lighting fixture or lamp.
236 Sodium, mercury vapor lighting fixture or lamp.
237 Portable or movable work light, trouble light.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–30 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Fire Module - F

238 Light bulb.

230 Lamp, lighting, other.
241 Night light.
242 Decorative lights, line voltage. Includes holiday lighting, Christmas lights.
243 Decorative or landscape lighting, low voltage.
244 Sign. Includes neon signs.
251 Fence, electric.
252 Traffic control device
253 Lightning rod, arrester/grounding device.
261 Power cord, plug; detachable from appliance.
262 Power cord, plug; permanently attached to appliance.
263 Extension cord.
260 Cord, plug, other.
200 Electrical distribution, lighting, and power transfer, other.

Shop Tools and Industrial Equipment

311 Power saw.
312 Power lathe.
313 Power shaper, router, jointer, planer.
314 Power cutting tool.
315 Power drill, screwdriver.
316 Power sander, grinder, buffer, polisher.
317 Power hammer, jackhammer.
318 Power nail gun, stud driver, stapler.
310 Power tools, other.
321 Paint dipper.
322 Paint flow coating machine.
323 Paint mixing machine.
324 Paint sprayer.
325 Coating machine. Includes asphalt-saturating and rubber-spreading machines.
320 Painting tools, other.
331 Welding torch. Excludes cutting torches (332).
332 Cutting torch. Excludes welding torches (331).
333 Burners. Includes Bunsen burners, plumber furnaces, and blowtorches. Excludes
weed burners (523).
334 Soldering equipment.
341 Air compressor.
342 Gas compressor.
343 Atomizing equipment. Excludes paint spraying equipment (324).
344 Pump. Excludes pumps integrated with other types of equipment.
345 Wet/dry vacuum (shop vacuum).
346 Hoist, lift, crane.
347 Powered jacking equipment. Includes hydraulic rescue tools.
348 Drilling machinery or equipment. Includes water or gas drilling equipment.
340 Hydraulic equipment, other.
351 Heat-treating equipment.
352 Incinerator.
353 Industrial furnace, oven, kiln. Excludes ovens for cooking (646).
354 Tarpot, tar kettle.
355 Casting, molding, forging equipment.
356 Distilling equipment.
357 Digester, reactor.
358 Extractor, waste recovery machine. Includes solvent extractors such as used in dry-
cleaning operations and garnetting equipment.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–31 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Fire Module - F

361 Conveyor. Excludes agricultural conveyors (513).

362 Power transfer equipment: ropes, cables, blocks, belts.
363 Power takeoff.
364 Powered valves.
365 Bearing or brake.
371 Picking, carding, weaving machine. Includes cotton gins.
372 Testing equipment.
373 Gas regulator. Includes propane, butane, LP, or natural gas regulators and flexible
hose connectors to gas appliances.
374 Motor, separate. Includes bench motors. Excludes internal combustion motors
(375).
375 Internal combustion engine (nonvehicular).
376 Printing press.
377 Car washing equipment.
300 Shop tools and industrial equipment, other.

Commercial and Medical Equipment

411 Dental, medical, or other powered bed or chair. Includes powered wheelchairs.
412 Dental equipment, other.
413 Dialysis equipment.
414 Medical imaging equipment. Includes MRI, CAT scan, and ultrasound.
415 Medical monitoring equipment.
416 Oxygen administration equipment.
417 Radiological equipment, x-ray, radiation therapy.
418 Sterilizer, medical.
419 Therapeutic equipment.
410 Medical equipment, other.
421 Transmitter.
422 Telephone switching gear, including PBX.
423 TV monitor array. Includes control panels with multiple TV monitors and security
monitoring stations. Excludes single TV monitor configurations (753).
424 Studio-type TV camera. Includes professional studio television cameras. Excludes
home camcorders and video equipment (756).
425 Studio-type sound recording/modulating equipment.
426 Radar equipment.
431 Amusement ride equipment.
432 Ski lift.
433 Elevator or lift.
434 Escalator.
441 Microfilm, microfiche viewing equipment.
442 Photo processing equipment. Includes microfilm processing equipment.
443 Vending machine.
444 Nonvideo arcade game. Includes pinball machines and the like. Excludes electronic
video games (755).
445 Water fountain, water cooler.
446 Telescope. Includes radio telescopes.
451 Electron microscope.
450 Laboratory equipment, other.
400 Commercial and medical equipment, other.

Garden Tools and Agricultural Equipment

511 Combine, threshing machine.
512 Hay processing equipment.
513 Farm elevator or conveyor.
514 Silo loader, unloader, screw/sweep auger.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–32 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Fire Module - F

515 Feed grinder, mixer, blender.

516 Milking machine.
517 Pasteurizer. Includes milk pasteurizers.
518 Cream separator.
521 Sprayer, farm or garden.
522 Chain saw.
523 Weed burner.
524 Lawn mower.
525 Lawn, landscape trimmer, edger.
531 Lawn vacuum.
532 Leaf blower.
533 Mulcher, grinder, chipper. Includes leaf mulchers.
534 Snow blower, thrower.
535 Log splitter.
536 Post hole auger.
537 Post driver, pile driver.
538 Tiller, cultivator.
500 Garden tools and agricultural equipment, other.

Kitchen and Cooking Equipment

611 Blender, juicer, food processor, mixer.
612 Coffee grinder.
621 Can opener.
622 Knife.
623 Knife sharpener.
631 Coffee maker or teapot.
632 Food warmer, hot plate.
633 Kettle.
634 Popcorn popper.
635 Pressure cooker or canner.
636 Slow cooker.
637 Toaster, toaster oven, countertop broiler.
638 Waffle iron, griddle.
639 Wok, frying pan, skillet.
641 Bread-making machine.
642 Deep fryer.
643 Grill, hibachi, barbecue.
644 Microwave oven.
645 Oven, rotisserie.
646 Range with or without an oven or cooking surface. Includes counter-mounted
stoves.
647 Steam table, warming drawer/table.
651 Dishwasher.
652 Freezer when separate from refrigerator.
653 Garbage disposer.
654 Grease hood/duct exhaust fan.
655 Ice maker (separate from refrigerator).
656 Refrigerator, refrigerator/freezer.
600 Kitchen and cooking equipment, other.

Electronic and Other Electrical Equipment

711 Computer. Includes devices such as hard drives and modems installed inside the
computer casing. Excludes external storage devices (712).
712 Computer storage device, external. Includes CD-ROM devices, tape drives, and
disk drives. Excludes such devices when they are installed within a computer (711).

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–33 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Fire Module - F

713 Computer modem, external. Includes digital, ISDN modems, cable modems, and
modem racks. Excludes modems installed within a computer (711).
714 Computer monitor. Includes LCD or flat-screen monitors.
715 Computer printer. Includes multifunctional devices such as copier, fax, and scanner.
716 Computer projection device, LCD panel, projector.
710 Computer device, other.
721 Adding machine, calculator.
722 Telephone or answering machine.
723 Cash register.
724 Copier. Includes large standalone copiers. Excludes small copiers and
multifunctional devices (715).
725 Fax machine.
726 Paper shredder.
727 Postage, shipping meter equipment.
728 Typewriter.
720 Office equipment, other.
731 Guitar.
732 Piano, organ. Includes player pianos. Excludes synthesizers and musical keyboards
(733).
733 Musical synthesizer or keyboard. Excludes pianos, organs (732).
730 Musical instrument, other.
741 CD player (audio). Excludes computer CD, DVD players (712).
742 Laser disk player. Includes DVD players and recorders.
743 Radio. Excludes two-way radios (744).
744 Radio, two-way.
745 Record player, phonograph, turntable.
747 Speakers, audio; separate components.
748 Stereo equipment. Includes receivers, amplifiers, equalizers. Excludes speakers
(747).
749 Tape recorder or player.
740 Sound recording or receiving equipment, other.
751 Cable converter box.
752 Projector: film, slide, overhead.
753 Television.
754 VCR or VCR–TV combination.
755 Video game, electronic.
756 Camcorder, video camera.
757 Photographic camera and equipment. Includes digital cameras.
750 Video equipment, other.
700 Electronic equipment, other.

Personal and Household Equipment

811 Clothes dryer.
812 Trash compactor.
813 Washer/dryer combination (within one frame).
814 Washing machine, clothes.
821 Hot tub, whirlpool, spa.
822 Swimming pool equipment.
830 Floor care equipment, other.
831 Broom, electric.
832 Carpet cleaning equipment. Includes rug shampooers.
833 Floor buffer, waxer, cleaner.
834 Vacuum cleaner.
841 Comb, hair brush.
842 Curling iron.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–34 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Fire Module - F

843 Electrolysis equipment.

844 Hair curler warmer.
845 Hair dryer.
846 Makeup mirror, lighted.
847 Razor, shaver (electric).
848 Suntan equipment, sunlamp.
849 Toothbrush (electric).
850 Portable appliance designed to produce heat, other.
851 Baby bottle warmer.
852 Blanket, electric.
853 Heating pad.
854 Clothes steamer.
855 Clothes iron.
861 Automatic door opener. Excludes garage door openers (863).
862 Burglar alarm.
863 Garage door opener.
864 Gas detector.
865 Intercom.
866 Smoke or heat detector, fire alarm. Includes control equipment.
868 Thermostat.
871 Ashtray.
872 Charcoal lighter, utility lighter.
873 Cigarette lighter, pipe lighter.
874 Fire-extinguishing equipment. Includes electronic controls.
875 Insect trap. Includes bug zappers.
876 Timer.
881 Model vehicles. Includes model airplanes, boats, rockets, and powered vehicles
used for hobby and recreational purposes.
882 Toy, powered.
883 Woodburning kit.
891 Clock.
892 Gun.
893 Jewelry-cleaning machine.
894 Scissors.
895 Sewing machine.
896 Shoe polisher.
897 Sterilizer, non-medical.
800 Personal and household equipment, other.

Other Equipment Involved in Ignition

000 Equipment involved in ignition, other.
NNN None.
UUU Undetermined

Equipment Brand, Model, Serial Number, and Year

Definition
The information in this block precisely identifies the equipment that was involved in ignition.
As possible, the following information should be recorded:

Brand: The name by which the equipment is most commonly known.

Model: The model name or number assigned to the equipment by the manufacturer. If

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–35 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Fire Module - F

there is no specific model name or number, use the common physical description of the
equipment.

Serial Number: The manufacturer’s serial number that is generally stamped on an identifi-
cation plate on the equipment.

Year: The year that the equipment was built.

Purpose
Provides detailed information identifying specific types of equipment that failed or contrib-
uted to the fire. This information can be used to determine whether particular brands or mod-
els cause problems more frequently than others; and to identify equipment for product recalls
or in the development of new product safety codes.

Entry
Enter the brand, model, serial number, and year of the equipment involved in ignition. If no
equipment was involved in ignition, check or mark the None box and go to Section G.

Example
The clothes dryer was a 1985 Maytag Model XRS–130, serial number 34–2345:
Equipment Involved in ignition
F1
If equipment was not involved, skip to
None Section G

8 1 1 Clothes dryer
Equipment Involved

Brand Maytag

Model XRS–130

Serial #
34–2345

Year 1 9 8 5

F2 Equipment Power Source

Definition
The type of power used by the equipment involved in ignition of the fire. This does not
include what actually produces the power.

Purpose
Combined with other factors in the ignition sequence, this element helps identify fire causes
for analysis. Power source data are useful for determining compliance with standards, analyz-
ing the effectiveness of codes and regulations, and targeting prevention programs.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description that best describes the power source of the equip-
ment involved in ignition.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–36 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Fire Module - F

Example
Enter electrical line voltage (11) to describe the power source of an electric range:
Equipment Power Source
F2
1 1 240V Electric
Equipment Power Source

EQUIPMENT POWER SOURCE CODES

Electrical
11 Electrical line voltage (50 volts or greater). Includes typical house current.
12 Batteries and low voltage (less than 50 volts).
10 Electrical, other.

Gas Fuels
21 Natural gas or other lighter-than-air gas. Includes hydrogen.
22 LP gas or other heavier-than-air gas. Includes propane and butane gas.
20 Gas fuels, other.

Liquid Fuels
31 Gasoline.
32 Alcohol.
33 Kerosene, diesel fuel, No. 1 and 2 fuel oil. Includes industrial furnace oils and
bunker oils.
34 No. 4, 5, and 6 fuel oils.
30 Liquid fuels, other.

Solid Fuels
41 Wood, paper.
42 Coal, charcoal.
43 Chemicals.
40 Solid fuels, other.

Other Power Sources

51 Compressed air.
52 Steam.
53 Water.
54 Wind.
55 Solar.
56 Geothermal.
57 Nuclear.
58 Fluid/hydraulic power source.
00 Power source, other.
UU Undetermined.

F3 Equipment Portability
Definition
Describes the equipment involved in ignition as either portable or stationary.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–37 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Fire Module - G

Purpose
This information is useful for better defining the type of equipment involved in ignition,
improving product safety, and highlighting possible preventive maintenance.

Entry
Check or mark the box best indicating the portability of the equipment involved in ignition of
the fire.

. Portable equipment normally can be moved by one or two persons, is designed to be used
in multiple locations, and requires no tools to install.

Example
A fire involves a tripod-mounted halogen quartz light used at a construction site:
Equipment Portability
F3
1 X Portable
2 Stationary
Portable equipment normally can be moved by
one or two persons, is designed to be used in
multiple locations, and requires no tools to install.

EQUIPMENT PORTABILITY CODES

1 Portable. Includes equipment that can be carried or moved by one or two persons
and designed to be used in a variety of locations. Tools are not needed to install or
operate the equipment.
2 Stationary. Includes equipment that is mounted at a fixed site or location or designed
to be operated in one location.

SECTION G G

The data elements in this section help provide a uniform way to identify factors contributing to
the growth and spread of the fire. This is useful to report incident information that has not been
captured by other data elements and that may have a bearing on the incident.

G Fire Suppression Factors

Definition
Factors that contributed to the growth, spread, or suppression of the fire. This is used to report
incident information that directly impacted the ignition, spread of fire or smoke, incident
complexity, or presence of hazardous conditions.

Purpose
Fire suppression factors provide essential guides for planning strategic and tactical procedures
for future incidents, as well as for identifying fire training and equipment needs.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–38 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Fire Module - G

Entry
Enter the three-digit code and description for up to three fire suppression factors or conditions
that constituted a significant fire suppression problem or affected how the fire was managed.
If no conditions or factors affected fire suppression efforts, check or mark the None box.

Example
The first-due engine company was delayed due to “trouble finding location” (424) after incor-
rect information was given by the dispatcher.

Due to the instability of the “wood truss construction” (185) roof, firefighters halted their
interior attack and went into a defensive fire suppression mode:
Fire Suppression Factors None
G
Enter up to three codes.

4 2 4 Trouble finding location

Fire suppression factor (1)

1 85 Wood truss construction

Fire suppression factor (2)

Fire suppression factor (3)

FIRE SUPPRESSION FACTORS CODES

Building Construction or Design

112 Roof collapse.
113 Roof assembly combustible.
121 Ceiling collapse.
125 Holes or openings in walls or ceilings.
131 Wall collapse.
132 Difficult to ventilate.
134 Combustible interior finish.
137 Balloon construction.
138 Internal arrangement of partitions.
139 Internal arrangement of stock or contents.
141 Floor collapse.
151 Lack of fire barrier walls or doors.
153 Transoms.
161 Attic undivided.
166 Insulation combustible.
173 Stairwell not enclosed.
174 Elevator shaft.
175 Dumbwaiter.
176 Duct, vertical.
177 Chute: rubbish, garbage, laundry.
181 Supports unprotected.
182 Composite plywood I-beam construction.
183 Composite roof/floor sheathing construction.
185 Wood truss construction.
186 Metal truss construction.
187 Fixed burglar protection assemblies (bars, grills on windows or doors).

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–39 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Fire Module - G

188 Quick release failure of bars on windows or doors.

192 Previously damaged by fire.
100 Building construction or design, other.

Act or Omission
213 Doors left open or outside door unsecured.
214 Fire doors blocked or did not close properly.
218 Violation of applicable or locally adopted fire, building, or life safety code.
222 Illegal and clandestine drug operation.
232 Intoxication, drugs or alcohol.
253 Riot or civil disturbance. Includes hostile acts.
254 Person(s) interfered with operations.
283 Accelerant used.
200 Act or omission, other.

On-Site Materials
311 Aisles blocked or improper width.
312 Significant and unusual fuel load from structure components.
313 Significant and unusual fuel load from contents of structure.
314 Significant and unusual fuel load outside from natural environment conditions.
315 Significant and unusual fuel load from man-made condition.
316 Storage, improper.
321 Radiological hazard onsite.
322 Biological hazard onsite.
323 Cryogenic hazard onsite.
324 Hazardous chemical, corrosive material, or oxidizer.
325 Flammable/combustible liquid hazard.
327 Explosives hazard present.
331 Decorations. Includes crepe paper, garland.
341 Natural or other lighter-than-air gas present.
342 Liquefied petroleum (LPG) or other heavier-than-air gas present.
361 Combustible storage >12 feet to top of storage. Excludes rack storage (362).
362 High rack storage.
300 On-site materials, other.

Delays
411 Delayed detection of fire.
412 Delayed reporting of fire. Includes occupants investigating the source of the alarm or
smoke before calling the fire department.
413 Alarm system malfunction.
414 Alarm system shut off for valid reason. Includes systems being maintained or
repaired.
415 Alarm system inappropriately shut off.
421 Unable to contact fire department. Includes use of wrong phone number and cellular
mobile phone problems.
424 Information incomplete or incorrect.
425 Communications problem; system failure of local, public, or other telephone
network.
431 Blocked or obstructed roadway. Includes blockages due to construction or illegal
parking.
434 Poor or no access for fire department apparatus.
435 Traffic delay.
436 Trouble finding location.
437 Size, height, or other building characteristic delayed access to fire.
438 Power lines down/arcing.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–40 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Fire Module - G

443 Poor access for firefighters.

444 Secured area.
445 Guard dogs.
446 Aggressive animals. Excludes guard dogs (445).
447 Suppression delayed due to evaluation of hazardous or unknown materials at
incident scene.
448 Locked or jammed doors.
451 Apparatus failure before arrival at incident.
452 Hydrants inoperative.
461 Airspace restriction.
462 Military activity.
481 Closest apparatus unavailable.
400 Delays, other.

Protective Equipment
510 Automatic fire suppression system problem. Includes system failures, shutoffs,
inadequate protection to cover hazard, and the like.
520 Automatic sprinkler or standpipe/fire department connection problem. Includes
damage, blockage, failure, improper installation.
531 Water supply inadequate: private.
532 Water supply inadequate: public.
543 Electrical power outage.
561 Failure of rated fire protection assembly. Includes fire doors, fire walls, floor/ceiling
assemblies, and the like.
562 Protective equipment negated illegally or irresponsibly. Includes fire doors,
dampers, sprinklers, and the like.
500 Protective equipment, other.

Egress/Exit Problems
611 Occupancy load above legal limit.
612 Evacuation activity impeded fire department access.
613 Window type impeded egress. Includes windows too small.
614 Windowless wall.
621 Young occupants.
622 Elderly occupants
623 Physically disabled occupants.
624 Mentally disabled occupants.
625 Physically restrained/confined occupants.
626 Medically disabled occupants.
641 Special event.
642 Public gathering.
600 Egress/exit problems, other.

Natural Conditions
711 Drought or low fuel moisture.
712 Humidity, low.
713 Humidity, high.
714 Temperature, low.
715 Temperature, high.
721 Fog.
722 Flooding.
723 Ice.
724 Rain.
725 Snow.
732 Wind. Includes hurricanes and tornados.
741 Earthquake.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–41 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Fire Module - H

760 Unusual vegetation fuel loading.

771 Threatened or endangered species.
772 Timber sale activity.
773 Fire restriction.
774 Historic disturbance (past fire history can dictate fire behavior).
775 Urban-wildland interface area.
700 Natural conditions, other.

Other Fire Suppression Factors

000 Fire suppression factors, other.
NNN None.

SECTION H H

Mobile property is property that is designed to be movable in relation to fixed property whether or
not it still is. Mobile property is always located on a specific property and, when mobile property
is involved, the Property Use (Basic Module, Section J) should always be completed.

H1 Mobile Property Involved

Definition
This element is used to determine how mobile property relates to a fire (i.e., if involved in the
ignition and whether or not it burned).

Purpose
The role that mobile property played in the incident can reveal problems and lead to appropri-
ate corrective actions.

Entry
Check or mark the box best describing the role that mobile property had in the fire. If no
mobile property was involved in ignition, check or mark the None box.

. If “1” is checked or marked, it is not necessary to complete Block H2. If “2” or “3” is
checked or marked, proceed to Block H2.

Example
A fire started under the hood of an automobile (3):
Mobile Property Involved None
H1
1 Not involved in ignition, but burned
2 Involved in ignition, but did not burn
3 X Involved in ignition and burned

MOBILE PROPERTY INVOLVED CODES

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–42 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Fire Module - H

1 Mobile property not involved in ignition, but burned in fire following ignition.
2 Mobile property was involved in ignition, but did not burn. Includes fires started by
exhaust systems of automobiles and sparks thrown off by trains.
3 Mobile property involved in ignition, and it burned.
N None.

H2 Mobile Property: Type, Make, Model, Year, License Number, State, VIN
Definition
The information in this block precisely identifies the mobile property involved in a fire’s igni-
tion. As possible, the following information should be recorded:

Type: Property that is designed and constructed to be mobile, movable under its own
power, or towed, such as an airplane, automobile, boat, cargo trailer, farm vehicle, motor-
cycle, or recreational vehicle.

Make: The name of the manufacturer of the mobile property.

Model: The manufacturer’s model name. If one does not exist, use the physical description
of the property that is commonly used to describe it, such as “three-bedroom” (mobile
home) or “four-door” (sedan).

Year: The year the mobile property was manufactured.

License Plate Number (if any): The number on the license plates affixed to the vehicle;
plates are generally issued by a state agency of motor vehicles. License numbers may also
be available for boats, airplanes, and farm vehicles.

State: The state in which the vehicle is licensed.

. If a commercial vehicle that is involved in the incident is licensed in multiple states,

record the state license where the incident occurred. If no license exists for the inci-
dent’s state, use the state license of the vehicle’s home origin.

VIN: The manufacturer’s Vehicle Identification Number that is generally stamped on an

identification plate on the mobile property.

Purpose
This element provides detailed information that identify the specific types of mobile property
involved in an incident, which can be used to determine whether particular brands or models
are more often a problem than others. Data on make, model, year, and other information are
useful for determining compliance to standards of mobile properties and analyzing the effec-
tiveness of these codes, standards, and regulations. The data also can be used to identify spe-
cial hazards.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–43 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Fire Module - H

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description of the property type. Enter the two-character code
(from the list at the end of this chapter) and description of the property make. Enter the
remaining information in Block H2 as appropriate. Be as specific as possible in making these
entries.

. Both the License Plate Number and VIN are left-justified in their fields.
Example
A 1997 Ford XLT (11), licensed in North Carolina (AYB5628), ignited when it hit a telephone
pole. The vehicle identification number was 234–233–1111–2676:
Mobile Property Type and Make
H2
1 1 Automobile
Mobile property type

F O Ford
Mobile property make
Explorer XLT 1 9 9 7
Mobile property model Year

A Y B 5 6 2 8 N C 2 3 4 2 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 6 7 6
License Plate Number State VIN

MOBILE PROPERTY TYPE CODES

Passenger Road Vehicles

11 Automobile, passenger car, ambulance, limousine, race car, taxicab.
12 Bus, school bus. Includes “trackless” trolley buses.
13 Off-road recreational vehicle. Includes dune buggies, golf carts, go-carts,
snowmobiles. Excludes sport utility vehicles (11) and motorcycles (18).
14 Motor home (has own engine), camper mounted on pickup, bookmobile.
15 Trailer, travel; designed to be towed.
16 Trailer, camping; collapsible, designed to be towed.
17 Mobile home, bank, classroom, or office (all designed to be towed), whether
mounted on a chassis or on blocks for semipermanent use.
18 Motorcycle, trail bike. Includes motor scooters and mopeds.
10 Passenger road vehicles, other.

Freight Road Transport Vehicles

21 General use truck, dump truck, fire apparatus.
22 Hauling rig (non-motorized), pickup truck.
23 Trailer, semi; designed for freight (with or without tractor).
24 Tank truck, nonflammable cargo. Includes milk and water tankers, liquid nitrogen
tankers.
25 Tank truck, flammable or combustible liquid, chemical cargo.
26 Tank truck, compressed gas or LP gas.
27 Garbage, waste, refuse truck. Includes recyclable material collection trucks.
Excludes roll-on-type trash containers (73).
20 Freight road transport vehicles, other.

Rail Transport Vehicles

31 Diner car, passenger car.
32 Box, freight, or hopper car.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–44 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Fire Module - H

33 Tank car.
34 Container or piggyback car (see 73 for container).
35 Engine/locomotive.
36 Rapid transit car, trolley (self-powered for use on track). Includes self-powered rail
passenger vehicles.
37 Maintenance equipment car. Includes cabooses and cranes.
30 Rail transport vehicles, other.

Water Vessels
41 Boat less than 65 ft (20 m) in length overall. Excludes commercial fishing vessels
(48).
42 Boat or ship equal to or greater than 65 ft (20 m) in length but less than 1,000 tons.
43 Cruise liner or passenger ship equal to or greater than 1,000 tons.
44 Tank ship.
45 Personal water craft. Includes one- or two-person recreational water craft.
46 Cargo or military ship equal to or greater than 1,000 tons. Includes vessels not
classified in 44 and 47.
47 Non-self-propelled vessel. Includes all vessels without their own motive power, such
as towed petroleum balloons, barges, and other towed or towable vessels. Excludes
sailboats (49).
48 Commercial fishing or processing vessel. Includes shell fishing vessels.
49 Sailboats. Includes those with auxiliary power.
40 Water vessels, other.

Aircraft
51 Personal, business, utility aircraft less than 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) gross weight.
Includes gliders.
52 Personal, business, utility aircraft equal to or greater than 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) gross
weight.
53 Commercial aircraft: propeller-driven, fixed-wing. Includes turbo props.
54 Commercial aircraft: jet and other turbine-powered, fixed-wing.
55 Helicopters, nonmilitary. Includes gyrocopters.
56 Military fixed-wing aircraft. Includes bomber, fighter, patrol, vertical takeoff and
landing (fixed-wing vertical stall) aircraft.
57 Military non-fixed-wing aircraft. Includes helicopters.
58 Balloon vehicles. Includes hot air balloons and blimps.
50 Aircraft, other.

Industrial, Agricultural, Construction Vehicles

61 Construction vehicle. Includes bulldozers, shovels, graders, scrapers, trenchers,
plows, tunneling equipment, and road pavers.
63 Loader, industrial. Includes fork lifts, industrial tow motors, loaders, and stackers.
64 Crane.
65 Agricultural vehicle, baler, chopper (farm use).
67 Timber harvest vehicle. Includes skycars, loaders.
60 Industrial, construction, or agricultural vehicles, other.

Mobile Property, Miscellaneous

71 Home, garden vehicle. Includes riding lawnmowers, snow removal vehicles, riding
tractors. Excludes equipment where operator does not ride. See Equipment
Involved in Ignition.
73 Shipping container, mechanically moved. Includes haulable trash containers,
intermodal shipping containers.
74 Armored vehicle. Includes armored cars and military vehicles. Excludes armored
aircraft and ships.
75 Missile, rocket, and space vehicles.
76 Aerial tramway vehicle.

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–45 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Fire Module - H

00 Mobile property, other.

NN No mobile property.

MOBILE PROPERTY MAKE CODES

AC Acura GE Geo MV Massey Harris-Ferguson
AG Agco GI Giehl MZ Mazda
AR Alfa Romeo GL Gleaner MJ McKee
AL Allis Chalmers GM GMC (General Motors) ME Melroe
AV Antique Vehicle GV GVM MB Mercedes Benz
AN Ariens HD Harley Davidson MC Mercury
AM Aston Martin HV Harvester MR Merkur
AT ATK HB Haybuster MF MHF
AU Audi HS Hesston MT Mitsubishi
AY Avery HI Hino MO Montesa
BS Belarus HO Honda MW Montgomery Ward
BE Beta HG Hough MG Moto Guzzi
BM BMW HS Husky MM Moto Morini
BO Bobcat HU Husqverna MD MTD
BR Briggs HX Hydrax MU Murray
BL Buell HY Hyundai NA Navistar
BU Buick IF Infiniti NH New Holland
CD Cadillac IN International NE New Idea
CA Case IL International Farmall NI Nissan
CB Case - David Brown IH International Harvester OL Oldsmobile
CI Case IH IS Isuzu OV Oliver
CP Caterpillar IT Italjet OS Oshkosh
CE Century IV Iveco OW Owatona
CH Chevrolet JA Jaguar PT Peterbilt
CR Chrysler JE Jeep PU Peugeot
CV Classic Vehicle JD John Deere PI Pierce
CO Continental KA Kawasaki PL Plymouth
CC Crane Carrier (CCC) KE Kenworth PN Pontiac
CU Cub Cadet KI Kia PR Porsche
DA Daihatsu KZ Kinze RN Range Rover
DE Demco KO Kioti RD Red Devil
DR Diamond Reo KN Knight RG Rogue (Ottowa)
DI Dixon KM Komatsu RR Rolls Royce
DO Dodge KR Krause SB Saab
DU Ducati KT KTM SA Saturn
DT Duetz KU Kubuta SG Scagg
DS Duetz-Allis LC Land Chief SC Scania
DF Duetz-Fahr LR Land Rover SE Sears Craftsman
ER Eager LT Landtrac SD Simon Duplex
EA Eagle LE Lexus SI Simplicity
EU Euclid LI Lincoln SN Snapper
FK Farm King LN Long SR Steiger
FA Farmall LO Lotus ST Sterling
FM Farmtrac MN MacDon SU Subaru
FE Ferrari MK Mack SZ Suzuki
FT Fetrel ML Maely TT Toro
FO Ford MI Mahindra TO Toyota
FR Freightliner MA Maico TL Trelan
FG Frigstad MH Marmon TR Triumph
FW FWD MS Maserati TJ Trojan
GH Gehl MY Massey Ferguson TB Troy-Bilt

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–46 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Fire Module - H

UD UD VL Volvo WG White GMC

UR Ursus VG Volvo GMC WD Woods
UT Utilmaster WK Walker YA Yamaha
VR Vermeer WL Walter YM Yardman
VS Versatile WS Western Star YU Yugo
VE Vespa WW Westward ZT Zetor
VO Volkswagen WH White OO Other Make

The 3 denotes a required field. 4–47 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 Basic Module
(NFIRS–1)

Fire Module
(NFIRS–2)

Chapter 5
Structure Fire Module
STRUCTURE FIRE (NFIRS–3)

MODULE (NFIRS–3)
Civilian Fire
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–4)

Fire Service
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–5)

EMS Module
State NFIRS (NFIRS–6)
Reporting Authority

HazMat Module
(NFIRS–7)

U.S. Fire Administration

NATIONAL FIRE DATA CENTER
Wildland Fire
Module (NFIRS–8)

Apparatus/
Personnel Modules
(NFIRS–9/–10)

Arson Module
(NFIRS–11)
 Structure Fire Module
Structure Type Building Status Building Main Floor Size NFIRS–3
I1 If fire was in an enclosed building or a
I2 I3 Height I4
Structure
portable/mobile structure, complete the Count the roof as part of the
rest of this form. highest story.
Fire
1 Under construction
1 Enclosed building 2 Occupied & operating
2 Portable/mobile structure 3 Idle, not routinely used
, ,
Total number of stories at or Total square feet
3 Open structure 4 Under major renovation above grade
4 Air-supported structure
5
5 Vacant and secured OR
Tent 6 Vacant and unsecured
6 Open platform (e.g., piers) 7 Being demolished
7 Underground structure (work areas) Total number of stories
, BY ,
0 Other below grade Length in feet Width in feet
8 Connective structure (e.g., fences) U Undetermined
0 Other type of structure

Fire Origin Number of Stories Damaged by Flame Type of Material Contributing Most
J1 J3 Count the roof as part of the highest story.
K to Flame Spread
Below grade
Number of stories w/minor damage Check if no flame spread OR if
Story of same as Material First Ignited (Block D4, Skip to
fire origin (1 to 24% flame damage) Section L
Fire Module) OR if unable to determine.

Number of stories w/significant damage

J2 Fire Spread (25 to 49% flame damage) K1

If fire spread was confined to object of origin, Item contributing most to flame spread
do not check a box (Ref. Block D3, Fire Module). Number of stories w/heavy damage
(50 to 74% flame damage)
2 Confined to room of origin
3 Confined to floor of origin
K2
Number of stories w/extreme damage Type of material contributing Required only if item
4 Confined to building of origin (75 to 100% flame damage) most to flame spread contributing code is 00 or <70.
5 Beyond building of origin

Presence of Detectors Detector Power Supply Detector Effectiveness

L1 (In area of the fire)
L3 L5 Required if detector operated.

Skip to 1 Battery only 1 Alerted occupants, occupants responded

N None Present Hardwire only 2 Alerted occupants, occupants failed
Section M 2
1 Present 3 Plug-in to respond
U Undetermined 4 Hardwire with battery 3 There were no occupants
5 Plug-in with battery 4 Failed to alert occupants
Detector Type 6 Mechanical U Undetermined
L2 7 Multiple detectors & power
Detector Failure Reason
supplies L6
1 Smoke 0 Other Required if detector failed to operate
U Undetermined
2 Heat
3 Combination smoke and heat Detector Operation 1 Power failure, shutoff, or disconnect
L4 2 Improper installation or placement
4 Sprinkler, water flow detection
Fire too small to activate 3 Defective
5 More than one type present 1
4 Lack of maintenance, includes
0 Other Complete not cleaning
2 Operated Block L5
U Undetermined 5 Battery missing or disconnected
3 Failed to operate Complete 6 Battery discharged or dead
Block L6
0 Other
U Undetermined U Undetermined

Presence of Automatic Extinguishing System Operation of Automatic Reason for Automatic

M1 N None Present
M3 Extinguishing System M5 Extinguishing System Failure
1 Present Complete rest of
Required if fire was within designed range Required if system failed or not effective
2 Partial System Present Section M 1 Operated/effective (go to M4)
1 System shut off
U Undetermined 2 Operated/not effective (go to M4)
2 Not enough agent discharged
3 Fire too small to activate
Type of Automatic Extinguishing System 3 Agent discharged but did not
4 Failed to operate (go to M5)
M2 Required if fire was within designed range of AES
Other
reach fire
0
4 Wrong type of system
1 Wet-pipe sprinkler U Undetermined
5 Fire not in area protected
2 Dry-pipe sprinkler
Number of Sprinkler 6 System components damaged
3 Other sprinkler system M4 Heads Operating 7 Lack of maintenance
4 Dry chemical system
8 Manual intervention
5 Foam system Required if system operated
0 Other
6 Halogen-type system
U Undetermined
7 Carbon dioxide (CO2) system
Number of sprinkler heads operating
0 Other special hazard system
U NFIRS–3 Revision 01/01/06
Undetermined

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–2 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I Structure Fire Module - I

CHAPTER 5

STRUCTURE FIRE MODULE (NFIRS–3)

he Structure Fire Module (NFIRS–3) should be completed for all structure fires. A structure
T is an assembly of materials forming a construction for occupancy or use to serve a specific
purpose. This includes, but is not limited to, buildings, open platforms, bridges, roof assemblies
over open storage or process areas, tents, air-supported structures, and grandstands. Users may
also optionally complete the Fire Module for confined building fires (Incident Types 113–118),
although it is not required.

Like the other modules, the Structure Fire Module is divided into sections and further subdivided
into blocks. Only Block I1 must be completed for all structure fires. Completion of the remainder
of the module is required only for building fires, although that portion of the module may also be
completed for non-building structure fires if desired.

SECTION I I

This section collects information about the structure involved in the fire, including its type, cur-
rent status, height, and size.

I1 Structure Type 3
Definition
The identification of a structure as a specific property type.

Purpose
Information on the structure type, combined with other structural characteristics, is useful for
understanding fire behavior and provides assistance in targeting fire prevention or protection
efforts.

Entry
Check or mark the box best indicating the type of structure involved in the fire. If the fire was
in an enclosed building or a portable or mobile structure, complete the rest of the module.

. If the fire was not in an enclosed building (codes 0 and 3–8), no other entries on this mod-
ule are required.

Example
The fire occurred in a two-story house (1):

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–3 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I Structure Fire Module - I

Structure Type
I1 If fire was in an enclosed building or a
portable/mobile structure, complete the
rest of this form.

1 x Enclosed building
2 Portable/mobile structure
3 Open structure
4 Air-supported structure
5 Tent
6 Open platform (e.g., piers)
7 Underground structure (work areas)
8 Connective structure (e.g., fences)
0 Other type of structure

STRUCTURE TYPE CODES

1 Enclosed building. Includes subway terminals and underground buildings.

2 Fixed portable or mobile structure. Includes mobile homes, campers, portable
buildings, and the like that are used as permanent fixed structures.
3 Open structure. Includes bridges, trestles, drilling structures, open stairways and
walkways, and the like.
4 Air-supported structure.
5 Tent.
6 Open platform. Includes piers, wharves without a superstructure, loading docks
without a roof, and the like.
7 Underground structure work area. Includes tunnels and mines. Excludes subway
terminals and underground buildings (1).
8 Connective structure. Includes fences, telephone poles, and pipelines.
0 Structure type, other.

I2 Building Status 3
Definition
The operational status of the building involved in the fire. This element indicates the actual
use of the building at the time of the fire.

Purpose
Building status, combined with other structural characteristics, is useful for understanding fire
behavior, the potential for loss of life and property, and the likely effectiveness of fire protec-
tion that existed before the fire.

Entry
Check or mark the box best indicating the status of the building involved in the fire.

Example
A family of four occupied the house (2):

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–4 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I Structure Fire Module - I

Building Status
I2
1 Under construction
2 x Occupied & operating
3 Idle, not routinely used
4 Under major renovation
5 Vacant and secured
6 Vacant and unsecured
7 Being demolished
0 Other
U Undetermined

BUILDING STATUS CODES

1 Under construction.
2 Occupied and operating.
3 Idle, not routinely used (furnishings are in place). Includes seasonal properties
during the off-season.
4 Under major renovation.
5 Vacant and secured.
6 Vacant and unsecured.
7 Being demolished.
0 Building status, other.
U Undetermined.

Building Height 3
I3 Definition
The number of stories at or above grade level and the number of stories below grade level in
the fire building.

Purpose
Building height and depth below grade, combined with other structural characteristics, are
useful for pre-fire planning as well as for gaining a better understanding of fire behavior.
Some fire departments use building height and depth to determine life safety hazard values.
The more difficult it is for people to escape, the higher the life safety hazard value for the
building.

Entry
Enter the total number of stories at or above grade level and the total number of stories below
grade level.

. For split grades, consider the main egress point as the “at grade” portion of the building.
. Do not count normally inaccessible attics, attics with less than standing height, or the roof
as a story (i.e., the roof is counted as part of the highest story).

Example
The house was two stories high with no basement:

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–5 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Structure Fire Module - J

Building
I3 Height
Do not count the roof as a
story.

2
Total number of stories at or
above grade

0
Total number of stories
below grade

I4 Main Floor Size 3

Definition
The size of the main floor in square feet. This is an estimate.

Purpose
Main floor size, combined with other structural characteristics, is useful for evaluating fire-
fighting operations and the need to allocate resources based on size and complexity of struc-
tures. It also helps in understanding the potential life and property at risk.

Entry
Enter the total square footage of the main floor, or enter the area using length-by-width mea-
surements (in feet). Do not enter both.

Example
The main floor was 750 square feet:
Main Floor Size
I4

, , 7 5 0
Total square feet

OR

, BY ,
Length in feet Width in feet

SECTION J J

This section collects information on where in the structure the fire originated, how far the fire
spread, and the number of stories damaged by flame.

J1 Fire Origin 3
Definition
Identifies the story where the fire originated within the building.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–6 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Structure Fire Module - J

Purpose
The story of fire origin, combined with other structural characteristics, is helpful for gaining a
better understanding of fire behavior and identifying any special problems in fire strategy and
tactics. Information on the frequency and nature of above- or below-grade-level fires is
needed for assessing aerial apparatus needs and performance. A fire in the upper levels of a
high-rise building is often difficult to control because of delays in moving personnel and
equipment to the fire floor.

Entry
Enter the story of fire origin. If below grade level, check or mark the Below Grade box.

. Checking or marking the Below Grade box has the effect of entering a negative number
in NFIRS 5.0.

Example
The fire began in the master bedroom on the second story:
Fire Origin
J1
2 Below grade
Story of
fire origin

J2 Fire Spread 3
Definition
The extent of fire spread in terms of how far the flame damage extended. The extent of flame
damage is the area actually burned or charred and does not include the area receiving only
heat, smoke, or water damage.

Purpose
In combination with other information, this element describes the magnitude or seriousness of
the fire. It can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of built-in fire protection features or the
effectiveness of the fire suppression force relative to the conditions faced. The confinement
and extinguishment of a fire is influenced by many factors. Fire spread indicates the com-
bined effect of these conditions. Also, the analysis of fire spread over many fires can reveal
the effects of individual factors.

Entry
Check or mark the box best describing the extent of fire spread.

. If the fire was confined to the object of origin, an entry should have been made in Block
D3 of the Fire Module. Do not check or mark any additional box in this block.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–7 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Structure Fire Module - J

. A room is a partitioned part of the inside of a building. If the flame damage extends
beyond the area of origin in a one-room building, such as a shed, the damage should be
described as Confined to the Building of Origin. The Confined to the Building of Origin
box is also the appropriate description if the fire was on the roof or outside wall of a
building.

Example
A fire causes flame damage only in the room of origin (2):
Fire Spread
J2 If the fire spread was confined to object of origin,
do not check a box (Ref. Block D3, Fire Module).

2 x Confined to room of origin

3 Confined to floor of origin
4 Confined to building of origin
5 Beyond building of origin

FIRE SPREAD CODES

1 Confined to object of origin.

2 Confined to room of origin.
3 Confined to floor of origin.
4 Confined to building of origin.
5 Beyond building of origin.

J3 Number of Stories Damaged by Flame

Definition
The number of stories damaged by flame spread. Flame damage is the area actually burned or
charred and does not include areas receiving only heat, smoke, or water damage.

Purpose
In combination with other information, this element describes the magnitude or seriousness of
the fire. It can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of built-in fire protection features or the
effectiveness of the fire suppression force relative to the conditions faced. The confinement
and extinguishment of a fire is influenced by many factors. Fire spread indicates the com-
bined effect of these conditions. Also, the analysis of fire spread over many fires can reveal
the effects of individual factors.

Entry
Enter the number of stories damaged by flame according to the indicated criteria.

. Count the roof as part of the top story.

Example
Two stories were heavily damaged by the fire, and one story had only minor flame damage:

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–8 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Structure Fire Module - K

Number of Stories Damaged by Flame

J3 Count the roof as part of the highest story.

1 Number of stories w/minor damage

(1 to 24% flame damage)

Number of stories w/significant damage

(25 to 49% flame damage)
Number of stories w/heavy damage
2 (50 to 74% flame damage)

Number of stories w/extreme damage

(75 to 100% flame damage)

SECTION K K

This section captures information on the actual item and material that were most involved in the
spread of the fire (if different from the item first ignited)

Check or mark the box at the top of this section and skip to Section L if (1) there was no signifi-
cant flame spread, (2) the flame spread was confined to the material first ignited, or (3) determin-
ing the flame spread was not possible.

K1 Item Contributing Most to Flame Spread

Definition
The item contributing most to flame spread, if different from the Item First Ignited (Fire
Module, Block D3).

Purpose
This information helps determine why fires advance through a structure and understand the
rate at which they develop. A study of this entry also aids in assessing the need for flammabil-
ity standards and other safety standards. This information can also be helpful to manufactur-
ers for product improvement.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description best describing the item contributing most to flame
spread.

Example
A sofa (21) contributed most to flame spread:

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–9 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Structure Fire Module - K

Material Contributing Most to Flame Spread

K
Check if no flame spread OR if
same as Material First Ignited (Block D4, Skip to
Fire Module) OR if unable to determine. Section L

K1 2 1 Sofa
Item contributing most to flame spread

K2
Type of material contributing
most to flame spread Required only if item
contributing code is 00 or <70.

. An alphabetized synonym list for the following Item Contributing Most to Flame Spread
codes is presented in Appendix B.

ITEM CONTRIBUTING MOST TO FLAME SPREAD CODES

Structural Component, Finish

11 Exterior roof covering, surface, finish.
12 Exterior sidewall covering, surface, finish. Includes eaves.
13 Exterior trim, appurtenances. Includes doors, porches, and platforms.
14 Floor covering or rug/carpet/mat, surface.
15 Interior wall covering. Includes cloth wall coverings, wood paneling, and items
permanently affixed to a wall or door. Excludes curtains and draperies (36) and
decorations (42).
16 Interior ceiling covering or finish. Includes cloth permanently affixed to ceiling and
acoustical tile.
17 Structural member or framing.
18 Thermal, acoustical insulation within wall, partition or floor/ceiling space. Includes
fibers, batts, boards, loose fills.
10 Structural component or finish, other.

Furniture, Utensils. Includes built-in furniture.

21 Upholstered sofa, chair, vehicle seats.
22 Non-upholstered chair, bench.
23 Cabinetry. Includes filing cabinets, pianos, dressers, chests of drawers, desks,
tables, and bookcases. Excludes TV sets, bottle warmers, and appliance housings
(25).
24 Ironing board.
25 Appliance housing or casing.
26 Household utensils. Includes kitchen and cleaning utensils.
20 Furniture, utensils, other.

Soft Goods, Wearing Apparel

31 Mattress, pillow.
32 Bedding: blanket, sheet, comforter. Includes heating pads.
33 Linen, other than bedding. Includes towels and tablecloths.
34 Wearing apparel not on a person.
35 Wearing apparel on a person.
36 Curtain, blind, drapery, tapestry.
37 Goods not made up. Includes fabrics and yard goods.
38 Luggage.
30 Soft goods, wearing apparel, other.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–10 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Structure Fire Module - K

Adornment, Recreational Material, Signs

41 Christmas tree.
42 Decoration.
43 Sign. Includes outdoor signs such as billboards.
44 Chips. Includes wood chips.
45 Toy, game.
46 Awning, canopy.
47 Tarpaulin, tent.
40 Adornment, recreational material, signs, other.

Storage Supplies
51 Box, carton, bag, basket, barrel. Includes wastebaskets.
52 Material being used to make a product. Includes raw materials used as input to a
manufacturing or construction process. Excludes finished products.
53 Pallet, skid (empty). Excludes palletized stock (58).
54 Cord, rope, twine, yarn.
55 Packing, wrapping material.
56 Baled goods or material. Includes bale storage.
57 Bulk storage.
58 Palletized material, material stored on pallets.
59 Rolled, wound material. Includes rolled paper and fabrics.
50 Storage supplies, other.

Liquids, Piping, Filters

61 Atomized, vaporized liquid. Included are aerosols.
62 Flammable liquid/gas (fuel) in or escaping from combustion engines.
63 Flammable liquid/gas in or escaping from final container or pipe before engine or
burner. Includes piping between the engine and the burner.
64 Flammable liquid/gas in or escaping from container or pipe. Excludes engines,
burners, and their fuel systems.
65 Flammable liquid/gas, uncontained. Includes accelerants.
66 Pipe, duct, conduit, hose.
67 Pipe, duct, conduit, or hose covering. Includes insulating materials whether for
acoustical or thermal purposes, and whether inside or outside the pipe, duct,
conduit, or hose.
68 Filter. Includes evaporative cooler pads.
60 Liquids, piping, filters, other.

Organic Materials
71 Agricultural crop. Includes fruits and vegetables.
72 Light vegetation (not crop). Includes grass, leaves, needles, chaff, mulch, and
compost.
73 Heavy vegetation (not crop). Includes trees and brush.
74 Animal, living or dead.
75 Human, living or dead.
76 Cooking materials. Includes edible materials for man or animal. Excludes cooking
utensils (26).
77 Feathers or fur. Excludes feathers or fur not on bird or animal, and not processed
into a product.
70 Organic materials, other.

General Materials
81 Electrical wire, cable insulation. Do not classify the insulation on the wiring as the
item first ignited unless there were no other materials in the immediate area, such as
might be found in a cable tray or electrical vault.
82 Transformer. Includes transformer fluids.
83 Conveyor belt, drive belt, V-belt.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–11 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Structure Fire Module - K

84 Tire.
85 Railroad ties.
86 Fence, pole.
87 Fertilizer.
88 Pyrotechnics, explosives.

General Materials Continued

91 Book.
92 Magazine, newspaper, writing paper. Includes files.
93 Adhesive.
94 Dust, fiber, lint. Includes sawdust and excelsior.
95 Film, residue. Includes paint, resin, and chimney film or residue and other films and
residues produced as a by-product of an operation.
96 Rubbish, trash, waste.
97 Oily rags.
00 Item contributing most to flame spread, other.
UU Undetermined.

K2 Type of Material Contributing Most to Flame Spread

. This field is required only if the Item Contributing Most to Flame Spread code is “00” or
a number less than “70.”

Definition
The type of material contributing most to flame spread, if different from the Type of Material
First Ignited (Fire Module, Block D4). Skip this block if the material is unknown.

Type of material refers to the raw, common, or natural state in which the material exists.
The type of material may be a gas, flammable liquid, chemical, plastic, wood, paper, fab-
ric, or any number of other materials.

Purpose
Knowing what type of material contributed most to flame spread is helpful in finding out why
fires advance through a structure and understanding the rate at which fires develop. A study of
this entry also aids in assessing the need for standards on the flammability of materials. This
information can also be helpful to manufacturers for improving products.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description that best describes the type of material contributing
most to flame spread.

Example
The fabric (71) that the sofa was upholstered with contributed most to flame spread:

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–12 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Structure Fire Module - K

Type of Material Contributing Most

K to Flame Spread
Check if no flame spread OR if
same as Material First Ignited (Block D4, Skip to
Fire Module) OR if unable to determine. Section L

K1 2 1 Sofa
Item contributing most to flame spread

K2 7 1 Fabric
Type of material contributing
most to flame spread Required only if item
contributing code is 00 or <70.

. An alphabetized synonym list for the following Type of Material Contributing Most to
Flame Spread codes is presented in Appendix B.

TYPE OF MATERIAL CONTRIBUTING MOST TO FLAME SPREAD CODES

Flammable Gas
11 Natural gas. Includes methane and marsh gas.
12 LP gas. Includes butane, butane and air mixtures, and propane gas.
13 Anesthetic gas.
14 Acetylene gas
15 Hydrogen.
10 Flammable gas, other. Includes benzene, benzol, carbon disulfide, carbon
monoxide, ethylene, ethylene oxide, and vinyl chloride.

Flammable or Combustible Liquid

21 Ether, pentane-type flammable liquid. Includes all Class 1A flammable liquids.
22 JP–4 jet fuel and methyl-ethyl-ketone-type flammable liquid. Includes all Class 1B
flammable liquids. Excludes gasoline (23).
23 Gasoline.
24 Turpentine, butyl-alcohol-type flammable liquid. Includes all Class IC flammable
liquids.
25 Kerosene; Nos.1 and 2 fuel oil; diesel-type combustible liquid. Includes all Class II
combustible liquids.
26 Cottonseed oil; Nos. 4, 5, and 6 fuel oil; creosote-oil-type combustible liquid.
Includes all Class IIIA combustible liquids.
27 Cooking oil, transformer oil, lubricating oil. Includes all Class IIIB combustible liquids.
20 Flammable or combustible liquid, other.

Volatile Solid or Chemical

31 Fat, grease, butter, margarine, lard, tallow.
32 Petroleum jelly and nonfood grease.
33 Polish, paraffin, wax.
34 Adhesive, resin, tar, glue, asphalt, pitch, soot.
35 Paint, varnish—applied.
36 Combustible metal. Includes magnesium, titanium, and zirconium.
37 Solid chemical. Includes explosives. Excludes liquid chemicals (division 2) and
gaseous chemicals (division 1).
38 Radioactive material.
30 Volatile solid or chemical, other.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–13 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Structure Fire Module - K

Plastics
41 Plastic, regardless of type. Excludes synthetic fibers, coated fabrics, plastic
upholstery.

Natural Product
51 Rubber, tire rubber. Excludes synthetic rubbers (classify as plastics (41)).
52 Cork.
53 Leather.
54 Hay, straw.
55 Grain, natural fiber. Includes cotton, feathers, felt, barley, corn, coconut. Excludes
fabrics and furniture batting (71).
56 Coal, coke, briquettes, peat. Includes briquettes of carbon black and charcoal.
57 Food, starch. Includes flour. Excludes fat or grease (31).
58 Tobacco.
50 Natural product, other. Includes manure.

Wood or Paper – Processed

61 Wood chips, sawdust, wood shavings.
62 Round timber. Includes round posts, poles, and piles.
63 Sawn wood. Includes all finished lumber and wood shingles.
64 Plywood.
65 Fiberboard, particleboard, and hardboard. Includes low-density pressed wood
fiberboard products.
66 Wood pulp, wood fiber.
67 Paper. Includes cellulose, waxed paper, sensitized paper, and ground-up processed
paper and newsprint used as thermal insulation.
68 Cardboard.
60 Wood or paper, processed, other.

Fabric, Textiles, Fur

71 Fabric, fiber, cotton, blends, rayon, wool, finished goods. Includes yarn and canvas.
Excludes fur and silk (74).
74 Fur, silk, other fabric, finished goods. Excludes fabrics listed in Code 71.
75 Wig.
76 Human hair.
77 Plastic-coated fabric. Includes plastic upholstery fabric and other vinyl fabrics.
70 Fabric, textiles, fur, other.

Material Compounded With Oil

81 Linoleum.
82 Oilcloth.
86 Asphalt-treated material. Excludes by-products of combustion, soot, carbon,
creosote (34).
80 Material compounded with oil, other.
00 Type of material contributing most to flame spread, other.
UU Undetermined.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–14 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 L Structure Fire Module - L

SECTION L L

These data elements identify the type and operating principle of detectors present in the area of
origin or in near proximity to the area of origin such that they would be instrumental in detecting
the fire in its early stages.

L1 Presence of Detectors 3
Definition
The existence of fire detection equipment within its designed range of the fire.

Purpose
Knowing whether or not detectors were present at the fire is useful for evaluating their effec-
tiveness can be evaluated if they were present and within their designed range.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the presence of detectors. If no detectors were
present within their designed range of the fire, check or mark the None Present box and skip
to Section M.

Example
No detectors (N) were present in a structure where the fire occurred:
Presence of Detectors
L1 (In area of the fire)

N x None Present Skip to

Section M
1 Present
U Undetermined

PRESENCE OF DETECTORS CODES

1 Present.
N None present.
U Undetermined.

L2 Detector Type
Definition
Identifies the type of fire detection system that was present in the area of fire origin.

Purpose
The type of detectors present at the fire is important to the understanding of fire control and
life safety in properties with and without detection equipment.

Entry
Check or mark the box that indicates the type of detector present in the area of fire origin.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–15 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 L Structure Fire Module - L

. This field is required if the fire was within the designed range of the detector.
Example
A smoke detector (1) was present in the area of fire origin:
Detector Type
L2

1 x Smoke
2 Heat
3 Combination smoke and heat
4 Sprinkler, water flow detection
5 More than one type present
0 Other
U Undetermined

DETECTOR TYPE CODES

1 Smoke.
2 Heat.
3 Combination smoke and heat in a single unit.
4 Sprinkler, water flow detection.
5 More than one type present.
0 Detector type, other.
U Undetermined.

L3 Detector Power Supply

Definition
Identifies the type of power supplying the detector.

Purpose
The reliability of detectors present at a fire is an important part of detector performance, espe-
cially if maintenance was poor or a power failure occurred before or during the fire.

Entry
Check or mark the box best indicating the type of power supply used by the detector.

. This field is required if the fire was within the designed range of the detector.
Example
The smoke detector ran on battery (1) power:

Detector Power Supply

L3
1 x Battery only
2 Hardwire only
3 Plug-in
4 Hardwire with battery
5 Plug-in with battery
6 Mechanical
7 Multiple detectors & power
supplies
0 Other
U Undetermined

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–16 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 L Structure Fire Module - L

DETECTOR POWER SUPPLY CODES

1 Battery only.
2 Hardwire only
3 Plug-in.
4 Hardwire with battery backup.
5 Plug-in with battery backup.
6 Mechanical. Includes spring-wound, stored pressure source, etc.
7 Multiple detectors and power supplies.
0 Detector power supply, other.
U Undetermined.

L4 Detector Operation
Definition
The operation and effectiveness of the detector relative to the area of fire origin.

Purpose
The information on the usage, reliability, and effectiveness of automatic detection equipment
is important to the understanding of fire control and life safety with and without detection
equipment. This item is not designed to evaluate any alarm transmission capability of the sys-
tem, only the detection of the fire.

Entry
Check or mark the box best describing the location and operation of the detector.

. This field is required if the fire was within the designed range of the detector.
Example
The smoke detector failed to operate (3):

Detector Operation
L4
1 Fire too small to activate
Complete
2 Operated Block L5

3 x Failed to operate Complete

Block L6

4 Undetermined

DETECTOR OPERATION CODES

1 Fire too small to activate detector.

2 Detector operated.
3 Detector failed to operate.
U Undetermined.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–17 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 L Structure Fire Module - L

Detector Effectiveness
L5 Definition
The effectiveness of the fire detection equipment in alerting occupants.

Purpose
Information on the effectiveness of automatic detection equipment is important for under-
standing whether fire detection equipment is accomplishing the task for which it is designed.

Entry
Check or mark the box best describing the effectiveness of the detector.

. This field is required if the detector operated.

Example
Heat detectors in the room of origin alerted the building occupants (1), who promptly
evacuated:
Detector Effectiveness
L5 Required if detector operated.

1 x Alerted occupants, occupants responded

2 Alerted occupants, occupants failed
to respond
3 There were no occupants
4 Failed to alert occupants
U Undetermined

DETECTOR EFFECTIVENESS CODES

1 Detector alerted occupants, occupants responded.

2 Detector alerted occupants, occupants failed to respond.
3 There were no occupants.
4 Detector failed to alert occupants.
U Undetermined.

L6 Detector Failure Reason

Definition
The reason why the detector failed to operate or did not operate properly.

Purpose
Information on why automatic detection equipment did not operate is important to the evalua-
tion of detection equipment and can be used to improve reliability or installation of detectors.

Entry
Check or mark the box best describing why the detector failed to operate or did not operate
properly.

. This field is required if the detector failed to operate.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–18 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Structure Fire Module - M

Example
Heat detectors in the room of origin did not activate because they were improperly installed
(2):
Detector Failure Reason
L6
Required if detector failed to operate

1 Power failure, shutoff, or disconnect

2 x Improper installation or placement
3 Defective
4 Lack of maintenance, includes
not cleaning
5 Battery missing or disconnected
6 Battery discharged or dead
0 Other
U Undetermined

DETECTOR FAILURE REASON CODES

1 Power failure or hardwired detector shut off or disconnected.

2 Improper installation or placement of detector.
3 Defective detector.
4 Lack of maintenance. Includes not cleaning.
5 Battery missing or disconnected.
6 Battery discharged or dead.
0 Detector failure reason, other.
U Undetermined.

SECTION M M

These data elements identify the type and operating principle of an automatic extinguishing sys-
tem (AES) present in the area of origin or in near proximity to the area of origin such that it would
be instrumental in suppressing the fire in its early stages.

M1 Presence of Automatic Extinguishing System 3

Definition
The existence of an AES within the AES’s designed range of a fire.

Purpose
If an AES was present at the fire, its effectiveness can be evaluated if it was within its
designed range of the fire.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the presence of an AES. If no AES was present,
check or mark the None Present box; no other entries are required on this module.

Example
An AES was present (1) in the structure where the fire occurred:

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–19 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Structure Fire Module - M

M1 Presence of Automatic Extinguishing System

N None Present
1 Present Complete rest of
2 Partial System Present Section M

U Undetermined

PRESENCE OF AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM CODES

1 Present.
2 Partial System Present.
N None present.
U Undetermined.

M2 Type of Automatic Extinguishing System

Definition
Identifies the type of automatic extinguishing system that was present in the area of fire
origin.

Purpose
Information on the type of AES present at the fire is important to the understanding of fire
control and life safety in properties with and without automatic extinguishing system.

Entry
Check or mark the box that indicates the type of AES present in the area of fire origin. If mul-
tiple systems are present, indicate the system designed to protect the hazard where the fire
started.

. This field is required if the fire was within the designed range of the AES.
Example
The AES was a wet-pipe sprinkler system (1):

Type of Automatic Extinguishing System

M2 Required if fire was within designed range of AES

1 x Wet-pipe sprinkler
2 Dry-pipe sprinkler
3 Other sprinkler system
4 Dry chemical system
5 Foam system
6 Halogen-type system
7 Carbon dioxide (CO2) system
0 Other special hazard system
U Undetermined

TYPE OF AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM CODES

1 Wet-pipe sprinkler system.

2 Dry-pipe sprinkler system.
3 Other sprinkler system. Includes deluge sprinkler systems and pre-action sprinkler
systems.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–20 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Structure Fire Module - M

4 Dry chemical system.

5 Foam system.
6 Halogen-type system. Includes nonhalogenated suppression systems that operate
on the same principle.
7 Carbon dioxide system.
0 Special hazard system, other.
U Undetermined.

M3 Operation of Automatic Extinguishing System

Definition
The operation and effectiveness of the automatic extinguishing system relative to the area of
fire origin.

Purpose
Knowing the usage, reliability, and effectiveness of AESs is important to the understanding of
fire control and life safety in buildings with and without extinguishing equipment.

Entry
Check or mark the box that indicates if the AES operated and was or was not effective. Effec-
tive does not necessarily mean complete extinguishing, but the system must at least contain
and control the fire until the fire department can complete extinguishment.

Example
The fire was too small to activate the system (3):
Operation of Automatic
M3 Extinguishing System
Required if fire was within designed range

1 Operated & effective (go to M4)

2 Operated & not effective (go to M4)
3 x Fire too small to activate
4 Failed to operate (go to M5)
0 Other
U Undetermined

OPERATION OF AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM CODES

1 System operated and was effective.

2 System operated and was not effective.
3 Fire too small to activate the system.
4 System did not operate.
0 Operation of AES, other.
U Undetermined..

M4 Number of Sprinkler Heads Operating

Definition
The total number of sprinkler heads that operated during the fire.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–21 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Structure Fire Module - M

Purpose
Recording the number of sprinkler heads that operated is useful in determining how fast the
fire developed. This is not an indication of the effectiveness of the sprinkler system.

Entry
Enter the total number of sprinkler heads that operated during the fire.

. This field is required if the sprinkler system activated.

Example
One sprinkler head activated:

M4 Number of Sprinkler
Heads Operating
Required if system operated

1
Number of sprinkler heads operating

M5 Reason for Automatic Extinguishing System Failure

Definition
The reason why the automatic extinguishing system failed to operate or did not operate
properly.

Purpose
Information on the effectiveness of an AES is important for understanding the reasons why
systems fail so they can be redesigned or additional safeguards put in place.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes why the AES failed to operate or was not effective.

. This field is required if the system failed to operate.

Example
The system did not operate because the fire was in the ceiling space above the AES (5):
Reason for Automatic
M5 Extinguishing System Failure
Required if system failed or not effective

1 System shut off

2 Not enough agent discharged
3 Agent discharged but did not
reach fire
4 Wrong type of system
5 x Fire not in area protected
6 System components damaged
7 Lack of maintenance
8 Manual intervention
0 Other
U Undetermined

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–22 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Structure Fire Module - M

REASON FOR AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM FAILURE CODES

1 System shut off.

2 Not enough agent discharged to control the fire.
3 Agent discharged, but did not reach the fire.
4 Inappropriate system for the type of fire.
5 Fire not in area protected by the system.
6 System components damaged.
7 Lack of maintenance. Includes corrosion or heads painted.
8 Manual intervention defeated the system.
0 Reason system not effective, other.
U Undetermined.

The 3 denotes a required field. 5–23 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 Basic Module
(NFIRS–1)

Fire Module
(NFIRS–2)

Chapter 6
Structure Fire Module
CIVILIAN FIRE CASUALTY (NFIRS–3)

MODULE (NFIRS–4)
Civilian Fire
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–4)

Fire Service
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–5)

EMS Module
State NFIRS (NFIRS–6)
Reporting Authority

HazMat Module
(NFIRS–7)

U.S. Fire Administration

NATIONAL FIRE DATA CENTER
Wildland Fire
Module (NFIRS–8)

Apparatus/
Personnel Modules
(NFIRS–9/–10)

Arson Module
(NFIRS–11)
 Civilian Fire Casualty Module

MM DD YYYY NFIRS–4
A Delete
Civilian Fire
FDID Incident Date Station Incident Number
State Exposure Change Casualty

Injured Person Gender Casualty

B C Number
1 Male 2 Female

First Name MI Last Name Suffix Casualty Number

Age or Date of Birth

E1 Race
Affiliation Severity
D 1 White F H
2 Black, African Am. 1 Civilian
3 Am. Indian, Alaska Native 2 EMS, not fire department
Months (for infants)
4 Asian 3 Police 1 Minor
Age Moderate
5 Native Hawaiian, Other 0 Other 2
Pacific Islander 3 Severe
OR Date and Time of Injury
Midnight is 0000.
4 Life threatening
0 Other, Incl. multiracial G Death
Date of Birth U Undetermined Date of Injury Time of Injury
5
U Undetermined
Ethnicity
E2 1 Hispanic or Latino
Month Day Year Month Day Year Hour Minute
0 Not Hispanic or Latino

I Cause of Injury J Human Factors None K Factors Contributing None

Contributing to Injury to Injury
1 Exposed to fire products including flame
Enter up to three contributing factors
heat, smoke, and gas
2 Exposed to toxic fumes other than smoke Check all applicable boxes
3 Jumped in escape attempt Contributing factor (1)
4 Fell, slipped, or tripped 1 Asleep
5 Caught or trapped 2 Unconscious
6 Structural collapse 3 Possibly impaired by alcohol
4 Possibly impaired by other drug Contributing factor (2)
7 Struck by or contact with object
8 Overexertion or strain 5 Possibly mentally disabled
9 Multiple causes 6 Physically disabled
0 Other 7 Physically restrained Contributing factor (3)

U Undetermined 8 Unattended person

Activity When Injured Location at Time of Incident Story at Start of Incident

L M1 1 In area of origin and not involved
M3 Complete ONLY if injury occurred INSIDE
2 Not in area of origin and not involved
1 Escaping 3 Not in area of origin, but involved Story at start of incident Below grade
2 Rescue attempt 4 In area of origin and involved
0 Other location Story Where Injury Occurred
3 Fire control
U Undetermined M4
4 Return to fire before control
Story where injury occurred, if
5 Return to fire after control General Location at Time of Injury Below grade
6 Sleeping M2 different from M3

7 Unable to act Skip to

1 In area of fire origin Specific Location at Time of Injury
8 Irrational act 2 In building, but not in area
Section N M5
0 Other Skip to
Complete ONLY if casualty NOT in area of origin
3 Outside, but not in area
U Undetermined Block M5
U Undetermined
Specific location at time of injury

Primary Apparent Symptom Primary Area of Body Injured Disposition

N O P
01 Smoke only, asphyxiation
Transported to emergency care facility
11 Burns and smoke inhalation 1 Head
12 Burns only 2 Neck and shoulder
21 Cut, laceration 3 Thorax Remarks Local option
33 Strain or sprain 4 Abdomen
96 Shock 5 Spine
98 Pain only 6 Upper extremities
Look up a code only if the symptom is NOT found above 7 Lower extremities
8 Internal
9 Multiple body parts
Primary apparent symptom
NFIRS–4 Revision 01/01/04

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–2 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A Civilian Fire Casualty Module - A

CHAPTER 6

CIVILIAN FIRE CASUALTY MODULE (NFIRS–4)

T he Civilian Fire Casualty Module should be completed whenever there are civilian casualties
resulting from a fire. A fire casualty is a person who is injured or killed as a result of a fire,
including injuries or deaths from natural or accidental causes sustained while involved in the
activities of fire control, attempting rescue, or escaping from the dangers of the fire. Fires include
Incident Types 100–199 as recorded on the Basic Module, Section C.

 If a civilian injury is not directly related to fire, it may be reported on an EMS Module
with the same incident ID information.

A separate Civilian Fire Casualty Module is required for each fire casualty.

SECTION A A

The guidance and directions for completing Section A of the Civilian Fire Casualty Module are
the same as for Section A in the Basic Module. It is stressed that the entries in Section A of the
Civilian Fire Casualty Module must be identical with the entries on the corresponding Basic
Module. If injuries occur in an exposure fire, the casualty report should have the same entries as
those from Section A of the Basic Module for that exposure fire. An example of a completed Sec-
tion A can be found on page 3–8.

A Fire Department Identification (FDID) ✰

Entry
Enter the same FDID number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

State ✰
Entry
Enter the same state abbreviation found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Incident Date ✰
Entry
Enter the same incident date found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Station Number
Entry
Enter the same station number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–3 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Civilian Fire Casualty Module - B

Incident Number ✰
Entry
Enter the same incident number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Exposure Number ✰
Entry
If the casualty resulted from an exposure fire, enter the same exposure number that was
entered in Section A of the Basic Module for that exposure.

Delete/Change
Definition
Indicates a change to information submitted on a previous Civilian Fire Casualty Module or a
deletion of all information regarding the casualty.

Purpose
To delete or change previously reported information.

Entry
Delete. Check or mark this box when you have previously submitted data on this civilian
casualty and now want to have the data on this casualty deleted from the database. If this box
is marked, complete Section A, the Casualty Number originally assigned (Section C), and
leave the rest of the report blank. Forward the report according to your normally established
procedures.

Change. Check or mark this box only if you previously submitted this fire incident to your
state reporting authority and now want to update or change the information in the state data-
base. Complete Section A and any other sections or blocks that need to be updated or cor-
rected. If you need to blank a field that contains data, you must resubmit the original module
containing the newly blanked field along with all the other original information in the module
for that incident. This action is required only when sending an updated module to your state
reporting authority. Forward the report according to your normally established procedures.

SECTION B B

B Injured Person
Definition
The first name, middle initial, last name, and gender that identifies the casualty.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–4 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Civilian Fire Casualty Module - C

Purpose
The name of the casualty may be required for legal purposes. It may also be useful for
notification to employers, for insurance purposes, and for filing disability claims.

Entry
Enter the full name of the person. Names should be clearly printed or typed. Check or mark
the appropriate box that indicates the injured person’s gender.

 Gender is a required field.

Example
The casualty’s name is Elizabeth P. Dandridge:
Gender
B Injured Person
1 Male 2 X Female

Elizabeth P Dandridge
First Name MI Last Name Suffix

GENDER CODES

1 Male.
2. Female.

SECTION C C

C Casualty Number ✰
Definition
A unique number is assigned to each casualty occurring at a single incident or resulting from
an incident.

Purpose
Identifies each casualty separately in the casualty file. Data and information concerning the
casualty can be accessed using this number in conjunction with other unique field informa-
tion.

Entry
Enter the casualty number assigned to this casualty. A separate Casualty Number is assigned
to each casualty. The first casualty is always coded “001,” and each succeeding casualty is
numbered sequentially and incremented by 1 beginning with “002.” The three-character
numeric field is zero filled, not right justified.

Example
There were four casualties as a result of a vehicle fire; the first casualty’s number is 001:

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–5 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Civilian Fire Casualty Module - D

Casualty
C Number

0 0 1
Casualty Number

SECTION D D

D Age or Date of Birth ✰

Enter either the fire casualty’s age or the casualty’s date of birth. Do not enter both.

Age ✰
Definition
The casualty’s age in years or, if the casualty is an infant, the age in months.

Purpose
Provides an indication of fire loss. Age can also be used to indicate type, severity, and cause
of injury to identify trends and patterns that might be helpful in planning injury prevention
techniques.

Entry
Enter the age of the casualty. Estimate the age if it cannot be determined. If the age is calcu-
lated in months, check or mark the Months (for Infants) box.

Example
The casualty was an 8-month-old baby:

D Age or Date of Birth

8 X Months (for infants)

Age

OR

Date of Birth

Month Day Year

Date of Birth ✰
Definition
The month, day, and year of birth of the casualty.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–6 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Civilian Fire Casualty Module - E

Purpose
This data element is an alternative entry for Age. It can provide an indication of fire loss, and
can be used to indicate type, severity, and cause of injury to identify trends and patterns that
might be helpful in planning injury prevention techniques.

 This data element is used as an alternate method for calculating the casualty’s age. Age is
collected in NFIRS but Date of Birth is not.

Entry
Enter the date of birth showing the month, day, and year (mm/dd/yyyy).

Example
A casualty was born on February 10, 1937:

D Age or Date of Birth

Months (for infants)

Age

OR
Date of Birth

0 2 1 0 1 9 3 7
Month Day Year

SECTION E E

E1 Race
Definition
The identification of the race of the casualty, based on U.S. Office of Management and Bud-
get (OMB) designations.

Purpose
Permits an analysis of casualties by race with type, severity, and cause of injury to identify
trends and patterns that might be helpful in planning injury prevention techniques.

Entry
Check or mark the appropriate box. If race cannot be determined, check or mark the Undeter-
mined box.

 Hispanic is not considered a race, because a person can be black and Hispanic, white and
Hispanic, etc.

Example
The casualty was an African American (2):

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–7 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Civilian Fire Casualty Module - E

Race
E1
1 White
2 X Black, African Am.
3 Am. Indian, Alaska Native
4 Asian
5 Native Hawaiian or Other
Pacific Islander
0 Other, multiracial
U Undetermined

RACE CODES

1 White.
2 Black or African American.
3 American Indian or Alaska native.
4 Asian.
5 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific islander.
0 Other. Includes multiracial.
U Undetermined.

E2 Ethnicity
Definition
Identifies the ethnicity of the casualty. Ethnicity is an ethnic classification or affiliation. Eth-
nicity designates a population subgroup having a common cultural heritage, as distinguished
by customs, characteristics, language, common history, etc. Currently, Hispanic/Latino is the
only OMB classification for ethnicity.

Purpose
Permits an analysis of casualties by ethnicity with type, severity, and cause of injury to iden-
tify trends and patterns that might be helpful in planning casualty prevention techniques.

Entry
Check or mark the appropriate box.

Example
The casualty was an Hispanic (1):
Ethnicity
E2
1 X Hispanic or Latino
0 Non Hispanic or Latino

ETHNICITY CODES

1 Hispanic or Latino.
0 Non Hispanic or Latino.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–8 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Civilian Fire Casualty Module - F

SECTION F F

F Affiliation
Definition
Indicates whether the casualty involved in the incident was an emergency services responder
or a civilian.

 Firefighter casualties are not reported on this module; instead, use the Fire Service
Casualty Module (NFIRS–5).

Non-firefighter casualties who may be injured directly by the fire include:

Civilian: Non-emergency services personnel such as occupants, passers-by, and

onlookers.

EMS: Emergency EMS personnel who are not members of the fire department.

Police: Persons from law enforcement agencies working at the scene.

Other: Persons working at the scene from other public or private service organizations
such as the utility company, other city agencies, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, etc.

Purpose
Identifies the groups suffering casualties. This information, along with data on the cause of
the casualty and associated incident, can help target programs for reducing casualties and can
be used to measure their success.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the casualty’s affiliation.

 If an injury occurs to EMS fire service personnel, use the Fire Service Casualty Module
instead.

Example
A police officer (3) falls and sprains his ankle while helping an occupant leave an apartment
building that was on fire:
Affiliation
F
1 Civilian
2 EMS, not fire department
3 X Police
0 Other

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–9 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Civilian Fire Casualty Module - G

AFFILIATION CODES

1 Civilian.
2 EMS, not fire department.
3 Police.
0 Other.

SECTION G G

G Date and Time of Injury

Date
Entry
Enter the month, day, and year when the injury occurred (mm/dd/yyyy). (See example at
Time.)

Time
Definition
The time of day, using the 24-hour clock, when the injury occurred. Midnight is 0000 and
signifies the start of a new day.

Purpose
This information is sometimes needed for legal or insurance purposes. It is most frequently
used to analyze the time of day fatalities occur for different types of incidents.

Entry
Enter as closely as possible the time when the injury occurred using the 24-hour clock (i.e.,
0000–2359). This could be before or after the alarm time shown on the Basic Module.

Example
A woman burned her hand at 5:25 p.m. on May 2, 2002:
Midnight is 0000.
G Date and Time of Injury
Date of I njury Time of I njury
0 5 0 2 2 0 0 2 1 7 2 5
Month Day Year Hour Minute

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–10 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Civilian Fire Casualty Module - H

SECTION H H

H Severity ✰
Definition
The relative severity or seriousness of the injury on a scale from “least serious” (minor) to
“most serious” (death).

Purpose
Often used as an indicator of the impact of the incident. It can be used as a measure for pre-
vention programs aimed at reducing injuries and deaths.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the severity of the injury.

Example
A second degree burn (2) on the forearm and shoulder:

Severity
H
1 Minor
2 X Moderate
3 Severe
4 Life threatening
5 Death
U Undetermined

SEVERITY CODES

1 Minor. The patient is not in danger of death or permanent disability. Immediate

medical care is not necessary.
2 Moderate. There is little danger of death or permanent disability. Quick medical care
is advisable. This category includes injuries such as fractures or lacerations
requiring sutures.
3 Severe. The situation is potentially life threatening if the condition remains
uncontrolled. Immediate medical care is necessary even though body processes
may still be functioning and vital signs may be normal.
4 Life threatening. Death is imminent; body processes and vital signs are not normal.
Immediate medical care is necessary. This category includes cases such as severe
hemorrhaging, severe multiple trauma, and multiple internal injuries.
5 Death.
U Undetermined.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–11 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I Civilian Fire Casualty Module - I

SECTION I I

I Cause of Injury
Definition
The physical event that caused the injury.

Purpose
This is another dimension in describing the cause of an injury and how and why the injury
occurred. The analysis of this information may further an understanding of the conditions
causing the injury and provide a means for planning suitable preventive techniques.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the cause of the injury.

Example
The fire burned (1) the victim’s hand:

I Cause of Injury

1 X Exposed to fire products including flame,

heat, smoke, and gas
2 Exposed to toxic fumes other than smoke
3 Jumped in escape attempt
4 Fell, slipped, or tripped
5 Caught or trapped
6 Structural collapse
7 Struck by or contact with object
8 Overexertion or strain
9 Multiple causes
0 Other
U Undetermined

CAUSE OF INJURY CODES

1 Exposed to fire products, such as flame, heat, smoke, or gas.

2 Exposed to hazardous materials or toxic fumes other than smoke.
3 Jumped in escape attempt.
4 Fell, slipped, or tripped.
5 Caught or trapped.
6 Structural collapse.
7 Struck by or contact with object. Includes assaults by persons or animals.
8 Overexertion or strain.
9 Multiple causes.
0 Cause of injury, other.
U Undetermined.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–12 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Civilian Fire Casualty Module - J

SECTION J J

J Human Factors Contributing to Injury

Definition
The physical or mental state of the person before becoming a casualty.

Purpose
One purpose here is to determine what human factors contribute to a person’s injury so pro-
grams can be developed to specifically deal with the problems either through education or by
reengineering the environment.

Entry
Check or mark all applicable boxes describing the human factors that contributed to this per-
son’s injury. If no preexisting human factors contributed to the injury, check or mark the None
box.

Example
A disabled man (6) was asleep (1) in a wheelchair when the fire trapped him in the room:

J Human Factors
Contributing to Injury None

Check all applicable boxes

1 X Asleep
2 Unconscious
3 Possibly impaired by alcohol
4 Possibly impaired by other drug
5 Possibly mentally disabled
6 X Physically disabled
7 Physically restrained
8 Unattended person

HUMAN FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO INJURY CODES

1 Asleep, no known impairment.

2 Unconscious.
3 Possibly impaired by alcohol.
4 Possibly impaired by other drug or chemical.
5 Possibly mentally disabled.
6 Physically disabled. Includes temporary conditions or overexertion.
7 Physically restrained.
8 Unattended or unsupervised person. Includes persons too young/old to act.
N None.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–13 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Civilian Fire Casualty Module - K

SECTION K K

K Factors Contributing to Injury

Definition
The most significant factors contributing to the injury of the casualty.

Purpose
Assists in targeting fire prevention programs and checking the adequacy and enforcement of
codes. For example, if many casualties resulted from illegally locked window bars, inspection
practices might need to be reviewed.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description for up to three factors that best describe the contribu-
tions to the injury. If no factors were involved, check or mark the None box.

Example
The casualty was injured because the exits were blocked by fire (21) and his clothing caught
fire (35) while he was trying to escape:

K Factors Contributing None

to Injury
Enter up to three contributing factors

2 1 Exit blocked by fire

Contributing factor (1)

3 5 Clothing caught fire

Contributing factor (2)

Contributing factor (3)

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO INJURY CODES

Egress Problem
10 Egress problem, other.
11 Crowd situation, limited exits.
12 Mechanical obstacles to exit. Includes items blocking exit.
13 Locked exit or other problem with exit.
14 Problem with quick-release burglar or security bar.
15 Burglar or security bar, intrusion barrier.
16 Window type or size impeded egress.

Fire Pattern
20 Fire pattern, other.
21 Exits blocked by flame.
22 Exits blocked by smoke.
23 Vision blocked or impaired by smoke.
24 Trapped above fire.
25 Trapped below fire.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–14 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 L Civilian Fire Casualty Module - L

Escape
30 Escape, other.
31 Unfamiliar with exits.
32 Excessive travel distance to nearest clear exit.
33 Chose inappropriate exit route.
34 Re-entered building.
35 Clothing caught fire while escaping. Excludes clothing on a person intimately
involved with ignition (91).

Collapse
40 Collapse, other.
41 Roof collapse.
42 Wall collapse.
43 Floor collapse.

Vehicle-Related Factors
50 Vehicle-related, other.
51 Trapped in/by vehicle.
52 Vehicle collision, rollover.

Equipment-Related Factors
60 Equipment-related factors, other.
61 Unvented heating equipment.
62 Improper use of heating equipment.
63 Improper use of cooking equipment.

Other Special Factors

91 Clothing burned, not while escaping. Includes clothing on a person intimately
involved with ignition. Excludes clothing that caught fire while escaping (35).
92 Overexertion.
00 Factor contributing to injury, other.
NN None.

SECTION L L

L Activity When Injured

Definition
The action or activity in which the person was engaged at the time of the injury.

Purpose
Identifies the situations when people are injured most frequently so that public education
programs can be targeted at reducing fire injuries.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the activity of the casualty when injured.

Example
A person was injured while trying to control the fire (3):

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–15 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Civilian Fire Casualty Module - M

L Activity When Injured

1 Escaping
2 Rescue attempt
3 X Fire control
4 Return to fire before control
5 Return to fire after control
6 Sleeping
7 Unable to act
8 Irrational act
0 Other
U Undetermined

ACTIVITY WHEN INJURED CODES

1 Escaping.
2 Rescue attempt.
3 Fire control.
4 Returning to vicinity of fire before control of fire. Excludes rescue attempt (2).
5 Returning to vicinity of fire after control of fire. Includes cleanup and salvage.
6 Sleeping, no known impairment.
7 Unable to act.
8 Irrational act.
0 Activity, other.
U Undetermined.

SECTION M M

This section captures the relationship between the location of a casualty at the time of the inci-
dent, location of the origin of the fire, and whether the casualty was intimately involved with the
ignition of the fire.

M1 Location at Time of Incident

Definition
The location of the casualty in relationship to the area of fire origin at the time the fire started.

Purpose
Provides specific information on how the injury occurred. This can be helpful in directing
public education efforts and injury prevention.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the location of the casualty in relation to the area of
fire origin and whether the casualty was involved with the ignition at the time the fire started.

Example
The casualty was in the area of the fire origin and was not involved in the ignition of the fire
(1):

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–16 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Civilian Fire Casualty Module - M

Location at Time of Incident

M1
1 X In area of origin and not involved
2 Not in area of origin and not involved
3 Not in area of origin, but involved
4 In area of origin and involved
0 Other location
U Undetermined

LOCATION AT TIME OF INCIDENT CODES

1 In area of origin and not involved in starting the fire.

2 Not in area of origin and not involved in starting the fire.
3 Not in area of origin, but involved in starting the fire.
4 In area of ignition and involved in starting the fire.
0 Other location.
U Undetermined.

M2 General Location at Time of Injury

Definition
The general location of the casualty in relationship to the area of fire origin at the time the
injury was sustained.

Purpose
Provides more information on how the injury occurred and the relationship of the ignition to
the casualty location at time of injury and at the time of ignition.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the casualty’s general location at the time of injury.
If Code “1” or “U” is marked, skip to Section N. If Code “3” is marked, skip to Block M5. If
the
general location is undetermined, leave this block blank and skip to Section N.

Example
The casualty was in the building, but not in the area of origin (2):

M2 General Location at Time of Injury

Skip to
1 In area of fire origin Section N
2 X In building, but not in area
3 Outside, but not in area Skip to
Section M5
U Undetermined

GENERAL LOCATION AT TIME OF INJURY CODES

1 In area of fire origin, whether that is inside or outside a building.

2 In building of origin, but not in area of origin.
3 Outside, but not in area of origin.
U Undetermined.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–17 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Civilian Fire Casualty Module - M

Story at Start of Incident

M3 Definition
Identifies the story where the casualty was located at the start of the incident.

Purpose
Provides information on the physical separation between the person injured and the area of
origin at the start of the fire. This can be helpful in assessing the adequacy of exits.

Entry
If the injury occurred inside a structure, enter the story where the casualty was located at the
start of the incident. If the story is below grade, check or mark the Below Grade box.

 For split grades, consider the egress point as the first story.

Example
The casualty was on the fifth story at the start of the incident:
M3 Story at Start of Incident
Complete ONLY if injury occurred INSIDE

Story at start of incident 5 Below grade

M4 Story Where Injury Occurred

Definition
Identifies the story where the casualty was located when the injury occurred.

Purpose
Provides more information on how far the casualty was from the area of origin when the
injury occurred. This can be helpful in assessing the adequacy of detection, alarm, and exit
systems as well as assisting in code enforcement.

Entry
If the injury occurred in a structure and the person was on a story different from that in Block
M3, enter the story where the injury occurred. If the story is below grade, check or mark the
Below Grade box.

Example
The injury occurred on the third story:

M4 Story Where Injury Occurred

Story where injury occurred, if
different from M3 3 Below grade

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–18 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Civilian Fire Casualty Module - M

Specific Location at Time of Injury

M5 Definition
Identifies the specific location of the casualty at the time of the injury.

Purpose
Provides more information on how the injury occurred.

Entry
If the injury did not occur in the area of fire origin, enter the two-digit code and description
that best describes the specific location or area where the casualty was located when injured.

Example
The casualty occurred in the maintenance shop of the factory (65):

Specific Location at Time of Injury

M5
Complete ONLY if casualty NOT in area of origin

6 5 Maintenance Shop
Specific location at time of injury

SPECIFIC LOCATION AT TIME OF INJURY CODES

Means of Egress
01 Hallway, corridor, mall.
02 Exterior stairway. Includes fire escapes, exterior ramps.
03 Interior stairway or ramp. Includes interior ramps.
04 Escalator: exterior, interior.
05 Entranceway, lobby.
09 Egress/exit, other.

Assembly, Sales Areas (Groups of People)

10 Assembly or sales area, other.
11 Arena, assembly area with fixed seats for 100 or more people. Includes auditoriums,
chapels, places of worship, classrooms, lecture halls, arenas, theaters.
12 Assembly area without fixed seats for 100 or more people. Includes ballrooms,
bowling alleys, gymnasiums, multiuse areas, roller or ice skating rinks.
13 Assembly area without fixed seats for less than 100 people. Includes meeting
rooms, classrooms, multiuse areas.
14 Common room, den, family room, living room, lounge, music room, recreation room,
sitting room.
15 Sales area, showroom. Excludes display windows (56).
16 Art gallery, exhibit hall, library.
17 Swimming pool.

Function Areas
20 Function area, other.
21 Bedroom for less than five people. Includes jail or prison cells, lockups, patient
rooms, sleeping areas.
22 Bedroom for more than five people. Includes barracks, dormitories, patient wards.
23 Bar area, beverage service area, cafeteria, canteen area, dining room, lunchroom,
mess hall.
24 Cooking area, kitchen.
25 Bathroom, checkroom, lavatory, locker room, powder room, outhouse, portable
toilet, sauna area.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–19 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M Civilian Fire Casualty Module - M

26 Laundry area, wash house (laundry).

27 Office.
28 Personal service area. Includes barber/beauty salon area, exercise/health club,
massage area.

Technical Processing Areas

30 Technical processing area, other.
31 Laboratory.
32 Dark room, photography area, printing area.
33 Treatment: first-aid area, surgery area (minor procedures).
34 Surgery area: major operations, operating room or theater, recovery room.
35 Computer room, control room or center, data processing center, electronic
equipment area, telephone booth or area, radar room.
36 Stage area: performance, basketball court, boxing ring, dressing room (backstage),
ice rink.
37 Projection room, spotlight area, stage light area.
38 Processing/manufacturing area, workroom, assembly area.

Storage Areas
40 Storage area, other.
41 Storage room, area, tank, bin. Includes all areas where products are held awaiting
process, shipment, use, sale.
42 Closet.
43 Storage: supplies or tools. Includes dead storage, maintenance supply room, tool
room, basement (unfinished).
44 Records storage room, storage vault.
45 Shipping/receiving area: loading area, dock or bay, mail room, packing area.
46 Chute/container: trash, rubbish, waste. Includes compactor and garbage areas.
Excludes incinerators (64).
47 Vehicle storage area: garage, carport.

Service Areas
50 Service facilities, other.
51 Dumbwaiter or elevator shaft.
52 Conduit, pipe, utility, or ventilation shaft.
53 Light shaft.
54 Chute. Includes laundry or mail chutes. Excludes trash chutes (46).
55 Duct. Includes HVAC, cable, exhaust.
56 Display window.
58 Conveyor.

Service, Equipment Areas

60 Equipment or service area, other.
61 Machinery room or area. Includes elevator machinery room, engine room, head
house, pump room, refrigeration room.
62 Heating room or area, water heater area.
63 Switchgear area, transformer vault.
64 Incinerator area.
65 Maintenance shop or area. Includes paint shop, repair shop, welding area,
workshop.
66 Cell, test.
67 Enclosure, pressurized air.

Structural Areas
70 Structural area, other.
71 Substructure area or space, crawl space.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–20 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 N Civilian Fire Casualty Module - N

72 Exterior balcony, unenclosed porch. Excludes enclosed porches (93)

73 Ceiling and floor assembly, crawl space between stories.
74 Attic: vacant, crawl space above top story. Includes cupola, concealed roof/ceiling
space, steeple.
75 Wall assembly, concealed wall space.
76 Wall surface, exterior.
77 Roof surface, exterior.
78 Awning.

Transportation, Vehicle Areas

80 Vehicle area, other.
81 Operator/passenger area of transportation equipment.
82 Cargo/trunk area—all vehicles.
83 Engine area, running gear, wheel area.
84 Fuel tank, fuel line.
85 Separate operator/control area of transportation equipment. Includes bridges of
ships, cockpit of planes. Excludes automobile, trucks, buses (81).
86 Exterior, exposed surface.

Other Area of Origin

90 Outside area, other.
91 Railroad right-of-way: on or near.
92 Highway, parking lot, street: on or near.
93 Courtyard, patio, terrace. Includes screened-in porches. Excludes unenclosed
porches (72).
94 Open area, outside. Includes farmland, fields, lawns, parks, vacant lots.
95 Wildland, woods.
96 Construction/renovation area.
97 Multiple areas.
98 Vacant structural area.
00 Other area of fire origin.
UU Undetermined.

SECTION N N

N Primary Apparent Symptom

Definition
The casualty’s most serious apparent injury.

Purpose
Allows analyses of the frequency and nature of injuries at different types of fires. This aids in
creating correct and effective public prevention messages and in determining and improving
the emergency responders’ equipment and training.

Entry
Seven of the most common symptoms are listed on the paper form. Check or mark the box
that best describes the casualty’s most apparent serious injury. If the symptom is not listed on

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–21 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 N Civilian Fire Casualty Module - N

the paper form, enter the two-digit code and description that best describes the primary appar-
ent symptom.

Example
The casualty received a cut (21) to the forearm:
Primary Apparent Symptom
N
01 Smoke only, asphyxiation
11 Burns and smoke inhalation
12 Burns only
21 X Cut, laceration
33 Strain or sprain
96 Shock
98 Pain only
Look up a code only if the symptom is NOT found above

Primary apparent symptom

PRIMARY APPARENT SYMPTOM CODES

01 Smoke inhalation.
02 Hazardous fumes inhalation.
03 Breathing difficulty or shortness of breath.
11 Burns and smoke inhalation.
12 Burns only, thermal
13 Burn, scald.
14 Burn, chemical
15 Burn, electric.
21 Cut or laceration.
22 Stab or puncture wound: penetrating.
23 Gunshot wound, projectile wound.
24 Contusion/bruise, minor trauma.
25 Abrasion.
31 Dislocation.
32 Fracture.
33 Strain or sprain.
34 Swelling.
35 Crushing.
36 Amputation.
41 Cardiac symptoms.
42 Cardiac arrest.
43 Stroke.
44 Respiratory arrest.
50 Sickness, other.
51 Chills.
52 Fever.
53 Nausea.
54 Vomiting.
55 Numbness or tingling, paresthesia.
56 Paralysis.
57 Frostbite.
61 Miscarriage.
63 Eye trauma, avulsion.

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–22 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 O Civilian Fire Casualty Module - O

64 Drowning.
65 Foreign body obstruction.
66 Electric shock.
67 Poison.
71 Convulsion or seizure.
72 Internal trauma.
73 Hemorrhaging, bleeding internally.
81 Disorientation.
82 Dizziness/fainting/weakness.
83 Exhaustion/fatigue. Includes heat exhaustion.
84 Heat stroke.
85 Dehydration.
91 Allergic reaction. Includes anaphylactic shock and hypersensitivity to medication.
92 Drug overdose.
93 Alcohol impairment.
94 Emotional/psychological stress.
95 Mental disorder.
96 Shock.
97 Unconscious.
98 Pain only.
00 Primary apparent symptom, other.
UU Undetermined.

SECTION O O

O Primary Area of Body Injured

Definition
The part of the body that sustained the most serious injury.

Purpose
An analysis of the data from Sections L, N, and O will assist in planning for the emergency
treatment of injuries and for injury prevention.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the part of the body that was most seriously injured.
It should be the same part of the body affected by the Primary Apparent Symptom (Section
N).

Example
The casualty’s shoulder (2) was dislocated while escaping the burning building:

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–23 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 P Civilian Fire Casualty Module - P

O Primary Area of Body Injured

1 Head
2 X Neck and shoulder
3 Thorax
4 Abdomen
5 Spine
6 Upper extremities
7 Lower extremities
8 Internal
9 Multiple body parts

PRIMARY AREA OF BODY INJURED CODES

1 Head.
2 Neck or shoulder.
3 Thorax. Includes chest and back. Excludes spine (5).
4 Abdomen.
5 Spine.
6 Upper extremities. Includes arms and hands.
7 Lower extremities. Includes legs and feet.
8 Internal.
9 Multiple body parts.

SECTION P P

P Disposition
Definition
Stipulates whether the casualty was taken to an emergency care facility.

Purpose
Assists in determining the personnel and equipment requirements for handling civilian fire
casualties.

Entry
Check or mark the box if the casualty was transported to an emergency care facility by the fire
department, other emergency medical service provider, or any other means.

Example
The patient was transported to the hospital by the fire department:

P Disposition

X Transported to emergency care facility

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–24 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 P Civilian Fire Casualty Module - P

Remarks
The Remarks section is an area for any other remarks that might be made concerning the inci-
dent. A narrative description of the incident may be written in this block.
Remarks Local option

The ✰ denotes a required field. 6–25 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 Fire Service Casualty Module

Basic Module
(NFIRS–1)

Fire Module
(NFIRS–2)

Chapter 7
Structure Fire Module
FIRE SERVICE CASUALTY (NFIRS–3)

MODULE (NFIRS–5)
Civilian Fire
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–4)

Fire Service
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–5)

EMS Module
State NFIRS (NFIRS–6)
Reporting Authority

HazMat Module
(NFIRS–7)

U.S. Fire Administration

NATIONAL FIRE DATA CENTER
Wildland Fire
Module (NFIRS–8)

Apparatus/
Personnel Modules
(NFIRS–9/–10)

Arson Module
(NFIRS–11)
The denotes a required field. 7–1 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 MM DD YYYY NFIRS–5
A Delete
Fire Service
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure Change Casualty

Injured Person 1 Male 1 Career Casualty Number

B Identification Number 2 Female 2 Volunteer
C

Casualty Number
First Name MI Last Name Suffix

Age or Date of Birth Date and Time of Injury

Midnight is 0000. Responses
D E F
Age Date of Birth Date of Injury Time of Injury

OR Number of prior responses

In years Month Day Year during past 24 hours
Month Day Year Hour Minute

Usual Assignment Physical Condition Just Prior to Injury

G1 G2 G4 Taken To Not transported

1 Rested 0 Other 1 Hospital

1 Suppression 4 Doctor’s office
2 Fatigued U Undetermined
2 EMS 5 Morgue/funeral home
4 Ill or injured
3 Prevention 6 Residence
4 Training 7 Station or quarters
Severity
5 Maintenance G3 1
0 Other
6 Communications Report only, including exposure
7 Administration 2 First aid only
Activity at Time of Injury
8 Fire investigation 3 Treated by physician (no lost time) G5
0 Other 4 Moderate (lost time)
5 Severe (lost time)
6 Life threatening (lost time) Activity at time of injury
7 Death

Primary Apparent Symptom Cause of Firefighter Injury Object Involved

H1 I1 I3 in Injury
None

Primary apparent symptom Cause of injury

Primary Part of Body Injured None Factor Contributing to Injury

H2 I2 None
Object involved in injury

Primary injured body part Contributing factor

Where Injury Occurred Specific Location Where Vehicle Type

J1 J3 Injury Occurred J4 Complete ONLY if
Specific Location code
is >60
1 En route to FD location 1 Suppression vehicle
2 At FD location 65 In aircraft 2 EMS vehicle
64 In boat, ship, or barge Complete 3
3 En route to incident scene Block J4
Other FD vehicle
63 In rail vehicle
4 En route to medical facility 4 Non-FD vehicle
61 In motor vehicle
5 At scene in structure 54 In sewer
6 At scene outside 53 In tunnel
Remarks
7 At medical facility 49 In structure
45 In attic 00 Other
8 Returning from incident
36 In water UU Undetermined
9 Returning from med facility 35 In well
0 Other 34 In ravine
U Undetermined 33 In quarry or mine
32 In ditch or trench
Story Where Injury Occurred 31 In open pit
J2 28 On steep grade
27 On fire escape/outside stairs
1 Check this box and enter the story if the
injury occurred inside or on a structure 26 On vertical surface or ledge
If protective equipment failed and
25 On ground ladder
Story of injury Below grade was a factor in this injury, please
24 On aerial ladder or in basket complete the other side of this
23 On roof form.
2 Injury occurred outside 22 Outside at grade NFIRS–5 Revision 01/01/04

The denotes a required field 7–2 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 Fire Service Casualty Module

Equipment NFIRS–5
K1 Did protective equipment fail and contribute to the injury? Yes Y
Sequence
Fire Service
Number
Please complete the remainder of this form ONLY if you answer YES. No N Casualty

Protective Equipment Item Protective Equipment Problem

K2 K3
Check one box to indicate the main problem that occurred.
Head or Face Protection Coat, Shirt, or Trousers
11 Burned
11 Helmet 21 Protective coat
12 Melted
12 Full face protector 22 Protective trousers
13 Partial face protector 23 Uniform shirt 21 Fractured, cracked or broken
14 Goggles/eye protection 24 Uniform T-shirt
15 Hood 25 Uniform trousers 22 Punctured
16 Ear protector 26 Uniform coat or jacket
17 Neck protector 27 Coveralls 23 Scratched
10 Other 28 Apron or gown
20 Other 24 Knocked off
Boots or Shoes
25 Cut or ripped
31 Knee length boots with steel baseplate and steel toes
32 Knee length boots with steel toes only 31 Trapped steam or hazardous gas
33 3/4 length boots with steel baseplate and steel toes
34 3/4 length boots with steel toes only 32 Insufficient insulation
35 Boots without steel baseplate and steel toes
36 33 Object fell in or onto equipment item
Safety shoes with steel baseplate and steel toes
37 Safety shoes with steel toes only 41 Failed under impact
38 Non-safety shoes
30 Other 42 Face piece or hose detached
Respiratory Protection
43 Exhalation valve inoperative or damaged
41 SCBA (demand) open circuit
42 SCBA (positive pressure) open circuit 44 Harness detached or separated
43 SCBA closed circuit
44 Not self-contained 45 Regulator failed to operate
45 Cartridge respirator
46 Dust or particle mask 46 Regulator damaged by contact
40 Other
47 Problem with admissions valve
Hand Protection
48 Alarm failed to operate
51 Firefighter gloves with wristlets
52 Firefighter gloves without wristlets 49 Alarm damaged by contact
53 Work gloves
54 HazMat gloves 51 Supply cylinder or valve failed to operate
55 Medical gloves
50 Other 52 Supply cylinder/valve damaged by contact

Special Equipment 53 Supply cylinder—insufficient air/oxygen

61 Proximity suit for entry 94 Did not fit properly
62 Proximity suit for non-entry
63 Totally encapsulated, reusable chemical suit 95 Not properly serviced or stored prior to use
64 Totally encapsulated, disposable chemical suit
65 Partially encapsulated, reusable chemical suit 96 Not used for designed purpose
66 Partially encapsulated, disposable chemical suit
97 Not used as recommended by manufacturer
67 Flash protection suit
68 Flight or jump suit
00 Other equipment problem
69 Brush suit
71 Exposure suit UU Undetermined
72 Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA)
73 Equipment Manufacturer, Model and Serial
Life preserver K4 Number
74 Life belt or ladder belt
75 Was the failure of more
Personal alert safety system (PASS)
than one item of protective
76 Radio distress device Manufacturer
equipment a factor in the
77 Personal lighting injury? If so, complete an
78 Fire shelter or tent additional page of this Model
79 Vehicle safety belt form for each piece of
70 Special equipment, other failed equipment. Serial Number
00 Protective equipment, other NFIRS–5 Revision 05/01/03

The denotes a required field. 7–3 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A Fire Service Casualty Module - A

CHAPTER 7

FIRE SERVICE CASUALTY MODULE (NFIRS–5)

he Fire Service Casualty Module is used to report all injuries, deaths, or exposures to fire ser-
T vice personnel. This includes casualties that occur in conjunction both with incident
responses and with non-incident events such as station duties or training.

. Important: In the event of a non-incident casualty, it is critical that an EMS incident

report is created in the system and that it is treated as if the same department with the
injury responded to the EMS.

A health exposure occurs when fire service personnel come in contact with a toxic substance or
harmful physical agent through any route of entry into the body (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, skin
absorption, direct contact). These exposures can be reported regardless of the presence of clinical
signs and symptoms. An exposure fire, which is captured in Section A of the Basic Module, is not
the same as a health exposure to personnel.

A separate Fire Service Casualty Module is required for each casualty or health exposure.

SECTION A A

The guidance and directions for completing Section A of the Fire Service Casualty Module are
the same as for Section A in the Basic Module. It is stressed that the entries in Section A of the
Fire Service Casualty Module must be identical with the entries on the corresponding Basic Mod-
ule. If injuries occur in an exposure fire, the casualty report should have the same entries as those
from Section A of the Basic Module for that exposure fire. An example of a completed Section A
can be found on page 3–8.

A Fire Department Identification (FDID)

Entry
Enter the same FDID number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

State
Entry
Enter the same state abbreviation found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Incident Date
Entry
Enter the same incident date found in Section A of the Basic Module.

The denotes a required field. 7–4 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A Fire Service Casualty Module - A

Station Number
Entry
Enter the same station number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Incident Number
Entry
Enter the same incident number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Exposure Number
Entry
If the casualty resulted from an exposure fire, enter the same exposure number that was
entered in Section A of the Basic Module for that exposure.

Delete/Change
Definition
Indicates a change to information submitted on a previous Fire Service Casualty Module or a
deletion of all information regarding the casualty.

Purpose
To delete or change previously reported information.

Entry
Delete. Check or mark this box when you have previously submitted data on this fire service
casualty and now want to have the data on this casualty deleted from the database. If this box
is marked, complete Section A, the Casualty Number originally assigned (Section C), and
leave the rest of the report blank. Forward the report according to your normally established
procedures.

Change. Check or mark this box only if you previously submitted this fire incident to your
state reporting authority and now want to update or change the information in the state data-
base. Complete Section A and any other sections or blocks that need to be updated or cor-
rected. If you need to blank a field that contains data, you must resubmit the original module
containing the newly blanked field along with all the other original information in the module
for that incident. This action is required only when sending an updated module to your state
reporting authority. Forward the report according to your normally established procedures.

The denotes a required field. 7–5 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Fire Service Casualty Module - B

SECTION B B

B Injured Person
Name
Definition
The first name, middle initial, and last name that identifies the fire service casualty.

Purpose
The name of the casualty may be required for legal or insurance purposes, filing disability
claims, and tracking injuries and health exposures by the individual fire department

Entry
Enter the full name of the person. Names should be clearly printed or typed.

Example
The casualty’s name is Jeff R. MacFadyen. (see example at Affiliation.)

Identification Number
Definition
The identification or employee number of the fire service casualty. This number is often the
individual’s social security number, but it may be any combination of letters or numbers up to
nine characters in length.

Purpose
The identification number uniquely identifies each fire service casualty.

Entry
Enter the casualty’s identification number in the spaces provided. This field is left-justified.

Example
The firefighter’s identification number is A23–4556–6789. (See example at Affiliation).

Gender
Definition
The identification of the fire service casualty as male or female.

Purpose
Combined with other field information, this data element assists in the identification of each
firefighter injury.

Entry
Check or mark the appropriate gender of the fire service casualty.

The denotes a required field. 7–6 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Fire Service Casualty Module - C

Example
The firefighter is male (1). (See example at Affiliation.)

GENDER CODES

1 Male.
2 Female.

Affiliation
Definition
The identification of the fire service casualty as a volunteer (includes paid on-call) or career
firefighter at the time of injury.

Purpose
This data element contributes to the identification of the fire service casualty and helps track
injury trends and patterns of volunteer vs. career personnel.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the affiliation of the fire service casualty.

Example
The casualty is a volunteer firefighter (2):

Injured Person A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 X Male 1 Career

B Identification Number 2 Female 2 X Volunteer

Jeff R MacFadyen
First Name MI Last Name Suffix

AFFILIATION CODES

1 Career.
2 Volunteer. Includes paid on-call firefighter.

SECTION C C

C Casualty Number
Definition
A unique number is assigned to each fire service casualty occurring at a single incident or
resulting from an incident.

The denotes a required field. 7–7 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Fire Service Casualty Module - D

Purpose
The casualty number of the firefighter identifies each fire service casualty separately in the
casualty file. Data and information concerning the casualty can be accessed using this number
in conjunction with other unique field information.

Entry
Enter the firefighter casualty number assigned to this casualty. A separate Casualty Number is
assigned to each fire service casualty. The first casualty is always coded “001,” and each suc-
ceeding casualty is numbered sequentially and incremented by 1 beginning with “002.” The
three-character numeric field is zero filled, not right justified.

Example
Three firefighters were injured at a warehouse fire on 32nd street; the first firefighter injured
is assigned the casualty number of 001:
Casualty Number
C
0 0 1
Casualty Number

SECTION D D

D Age or Date of Birth

Enter either the fire service casualty’s age or the casualty’s date of birth. Do not enter both.

Age
Definition
The fire service casualty’s age in years.

Purpose
The age of the fire service casualty provides an indication of fire loss. Age can also be used to
indicate type, severity, and cause of injury to identify trends and patterns that might be helpful
in preventing future firefighter injuries and deaths.

Entry
Enter the age of the firefighter.

Example
The injured firefighter is 39 years old:

The denotes a required field. 7–8 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Fire Service Casualty Module - E

D Age or Date of Birth

Age Date of Birth

3 9 OR
In years Month Day Year

Date of Birth
Definition
The month, day, and year of birth of the fire service casualty.

Purpose
This data element is an alternative entry for Age. It can provide an indication of fire loss, and
can be used to indicate type, severity, and cause of injury to identify trends and patterns that
might be helpful in preventing future firefighter injuries and deaths.

. This data element is used as an alternate method for calculating the casualty’s age. Age is
collected in NFIRS but Date of Birth is not.

Entry
Enter the date of birth showing the month, day, and year (mm/dd/yyyy).

Example
The fire service casualty was born on August 5, 1959:

D Age or Date of Birth

Age Date of Birth

OR 0 8 0 5 1 9 5 9
In years Month Day Year

SECTION E E

E Date and Time of Injury

Date
Entry
If the injury date is the same as the Incident Date in Section A, enter the same date as the
Alarm date entry in Block E1 of the Basic Module. If different, enter the appropriate month,
day, and year (mm/dd/yyyy). (See example at Time.)

Time
Definition
The time of day, using the 24-hour clock, when the injury occurred. Midnight is 0000 and
signifies the start of a new day.

The denotes a required field. 7–9 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Fire Service Casualty Module - F

Purpose
This information is sometimes needed for legal or insurance purposes. In addition, it may be
used to analyze when firefighter injuries occur during the course of a fire and during fire sup-
pression activities.

Entry
Enter as closely as possible the time when the injury occurred using the 24-hour clock
(i.e., 0000–2359).

Example
A firefighter received a burn on his back and hip at 5:36 a.m. on July 26, 2001:

E Date and Time of Injury Midnight is 0000.

Date of Injury Time of Injury

0 7 2 6 2 0 0 1 0 5 3 6
Month Day Year Hour Minute

SECTION F F

F Responses
Definition
The number of incidents the firefighter responded to in the 24-hour period prior to the time of
injury.

Purpose
The number of incidences that a firefighter responds to in a short period of time, when ana-
lyzed with the other casualty data, can be a useful indicator for identifying possible reasons
for the injury or death. This is useful in determining cases of fatigue and cumulative exposure
to heat and gases, which may have contributed to the injury.

Entry
Enter the number of incidents responded to by the firefighter in the immediate 24-hour period
prior to the time of injury. Do not count the incident at which the injury occurred.

Example
The fire service casualty had been on three other calls prior to the injury.
Responses
F
3
Number of prior responses
during past 24 hours

The denotes a required field. 7–10 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Fire Service Casualty Module - G

SECTION G G

This section collects information pertaining to the injured firefighter’s assignment, physical con-
dition before the injury, the severity of the injury, where the injury was treated, and the activity
being performed when injured.

G1 Usual Assignment
. Usual Assignment was known as Assignment in NFIRS 4.1.
Definition
This element describes the official assignment of the fire service casualty. This may not coin-
cide with the firefighter’s activity at the time of injury (Block G5).

Purpose
When analyzed with the other firefighter casualty data, the duty to which the firefighter was
assigned can be used to identify possible reasons for injury or death.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the primary duty assignment of the injured fire-
fighter.

Example
The injured firefighter is normally assigned to the training division (4):
Usual Assignment
G1
1 Suppression
2 EMS
3 Prevention
4 X Training
5 Maintenance
6 Communications
7 Administration
8 Fire investigation
0 Other

USUAL ASSIGNMENT CODES

1 Fire suppression. Includes HazMat, rescue, incident command, and safety.

2 EMS.
3 Prevention or inspection.
4 Training.
5 Maintenance.
6 Communications. Includes fire alarm.
7 Administration.
8 Fire investigation.
0 Other assignment.

The denotes a required field. 7–11 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Fire Service Casualty Module - G

Physical Condition Just Prior to Injury

G2 . Physical Condition Just Prior to Injury was known as Physical Condition at Time of
Injury in NFIRS 4.1.

Definition
The general physical condition of the firefighter prior to injury.

Purpose
The condition of the firefighter at the time of injury is important in determining and under-
standing how and why the injuries occurred.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the physical condition of the firefighter at the time
of injury.

Example
A firefighter was injured while under treatment for a cold (4):
Physical Condition Just Prior to Injury
G2
1 Rested 0 Other
2 Fatigued U Undetermined
4 X Ill or injured

PHYSICAL CONDITION JUST PRIOR TO INJURY CODES

1 Rested.
2 Fatigued.
4 Ill or injured.
0 Physical condition, other.
U Undetermined.

G3 Severity
Definition
The relative severity or seriousness of the injury based on a scale ranging from “no time lost
from work” to “death.”

Purpose
An indication of severity can be used as a measure for prevention programs aimed at reducing
injuries and deaths. At the local level, this element can be used to track lost-time injuries.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the severity of the casualty.

Example
The injured firefighter would not be able to go work the next day because of his injury (4):

The denotes a required field. 7–12 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Fire Service Casualty Module - G

Severity
G3
1 Report only, including exposure
2 First aid only
3 Treated by physician (no lost time)
4 X Moderate (lost time)
5 Severe (lost time)
6 Life threatening (lost time)
7 Death

. A health exposure occurs when fire service personnel are exposed to a toxic substance or
harmful physical agent through any route of entry into the body (e.g., inhalation, inges-
tion, skin absorption, direct contact). These exposures can be reported regardless of the
presence of clinical signs and symptoms. Exposures are treated as “report only” (1).

SEVERITY CODES

1 Report only. Includes exposures to toxic substances or harmful physical agents

through any route of entry into the body (e.g. inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption,
direct contact).
2 First aid only.
3 Treated by physician, not a lost-time injury.
4 Moderate severity, lost-time injury. There is little danger of death or permanent
disability.
5 Severe, lost-time injury. The situation is potentially life threatening if the condition
remains uncontrolled.
6 Life threatening, lost-time injury. Death is imminent; body processes and vital signs
are not normal.
7 Death.

G4 Taken To
. Taken To was known as Patient Taken To in NFIRS 4.1.
Definition
Identifies where the fire service casualty was taken after the injury occurred.

Purpose
This information is useful in determining the personnel and equipment requirements for
handling fire service casualties.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes where the fire service casualty was taken, regard-
less of who transported the firefighter. If the firefighter was not transported, check or mark the
Not Transported box.

Example
An injured firefighter was taken to the hospital (1):

The denotes a required field. 7–13 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Fire Service Casualty Module - G

Taken To Not transported

G4
1 X Hospital
4 Doctor’s office
5 Morgue/funeral home
6 Residence
7 Station or quarters
0 Other

TAKEN TO CODES

1 Hospital.
4 Doctor's office, non-emergency health care facility.
5 Morgue or funeral home.
6 Residence (firefighter’s home).
7 Station or quarters.
0 Taken to, other
N Not transported.

G5 Activity at Time of Injury

. Activity at Time of Injury was known as Fire Fighter Activity in NFIRS 4.1.
Definition
The activity being performed by the firefighter at the time the injury occurred.

Purpose
The activity at the time of injury is a prime factor in determining the cause of the injury and
developing methods to minimize the hazards involved with that activity.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description of the activity of the casualty when injured.

Example
A firefighter was injured using power tools to ventilate the roof (42):
Activity at Time of Injury
G5
4 2 Ventilating w/power tools
Activity at time of injury

ACTIVITY AT TIME OF INJURY CODES

Driving or Riding Vehicle

11 Boarding fire department vehicle.
12 Driving fire department vehicle.
13 Tillering fire department vehicle.
14 Riding fire department vehicle.
15 Exiting fire department vehicle.
16 Driving/riding non-fire department vehicle.
17 Boarding/exiting non-fire department vehicle.
10 Driving or riding vehicle, other.

The denotes a required field. 7–14 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Fire Service Casualty Module - G

Operating Fire Department Apparatus

21 Operating engine or pumper.
22 Operating aerial ladder or elevating platform.
23 Operating EMS vehicle.
24 Operating HazMat vehicle.
25 Operating rescue vehicle.
20 Operating fire department apparatus, other.

Extinguishing Fire or Neutralizing Incident

31 Handling charged hose lines.
32 Using hand extinguishers.
33 Operating master steam device.
34 Using handtools in extinguishment activity.
35 Removing power lines.
36 Removing flammable liquids/chemicals.
37 Shutting off utilities, gas lines, etc.
30 Extinguishing fire/neutralizing incident, other.

Suppression Support
41 Forcible entry.
42 Ventilation with power tools.
43 Ventilation with hand tools.
44 Salvage.
45 Overhaul.
40 Suppression support, other.

Access or Egress
51 Carrying ground ladder.
52 Raising ground ladder.
53 Lowering ground ladder.
54 Climbing ladder.
55 Scaling.
56 Escaping fire or hazard.
57 Moving/lifting patient with carrying device.
58 Moving/lifting patient without carrying device.
50 Access/egress, other.

EMS or Rescue
61 Searching for victim.
62 Rescuing fire victim.
63 Rescuing non-fire victim.
64 Water rescue.
65 Providing EMS care.
66 Diving operations.
67 Extraction with power tools.
68 Extraction with hand tools.
60 EMS/rescue, other.

Other Incident Scene Activity

71 Directing traffic.
72 Catching hydrant.
73 Laying hose.
74 Moving tools or equipment around scene.
75 Picking up tools, equipment, or hose on scene.
76 Setting up lighting. Includes portable generator operations.

The denotes a required field. 7–15 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Fire Service Casualty Module - H

77 Operating portable pump.

70 Other incident scene activity, other.

Station Activity
81 Moving about station, alarm sounding.
82 Moving about station, normal activity.
83 Station maintenance.
84 Vehicle maintenance.
85 Equipment maintenance.
86 Physical fitness activity, supervised.
87 Physical fitness activity, unsupervised.
88 Training activity or drill.
80 Station activity, other.

Other Activity
91 Incident investigation, during incident.
92 Incident investigation, after incident.
93 Inspection activity.
94 Administrative work.
95 Communications work.
00 Activity at time of injury, other.
UU Undetermined.

SECTION H H

This section focuses on the injury itself—the symptom that appears to be the most serious and the
part of the body that has been injured.

H1 Primary Apparent Symptom

Definition
The firefighter’s most serious apparent injury.

Purpose
This entry, in conjunction with other related entries, can improve the understanding of the
nature and cause of firefighter casualties and can aid in improving firefighter equipment and
training needs. For example, large numbers of smoke inhalation injuries to firefighters would
indicate a need to reevaluate the uses or adequacy of breathing apparatus.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description of the casualty’s that appears to be the most serious.

Example
A firefighter is overcome by smoke (01):
Primary Apparent Symptom
H1
0 1 Smoke inhalation
Primary apparent symptom

The denotes a required field. 7–16 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Fire Service Casualty Module - H

PRIMARY APPARENT SYMPTOM CODES

01 Smoke inhalation.
02 Hazardous fumes inhalation.
03 Breathing difficulty or shortness of breath.
11 Burns and smoke inhalation.
12 Burns only, thermal
13 Burn, scald.
14 Burn, chemical
15 Burn, electric.
21 Cut or laceration.
22 Stab or puncture wound: penetrating.
23 Gunshot wound, projectile wound.
24 Contusion/bruise, minor trauma.
25 Abrasion.
31 Dislocation.
32 Fracture.
33 Strain or sprain.
34 Swelling.
35 Crushing.
36 Amputation.
41 Cardiac symptoms.
42 Cardiac arrest.
43 Stroke.
44 Respiratory arrest.
51 Chills.
52 Fever.
53 Nausea.
54 Vomiting.
55 Numbness or tingling, paresthesia.
56 Paralysis.
57 Frostbite.
50 Sickness, other.
61 Miscarriage.
63 Eye trauma, avulsion.
64 Drowning.
65 Foreign body obstruction.
66 Electric shock.
67 Poison.
71 Convulsion or seizure.
72 Internal trauma.
73 Hemorrhaging, bleeding internally.
81 Disorientation.
82 Dizziness/fainting/weakness.
83 Exhaustion/fatigue. Includes heat exhaustion.
84 Heat stroke.
85 Dehydration.
91 Allergic reaction. Includes anaphylactic shock and hypersensitivity to medication.
92 Drug overdose.
93 Alcohol impairment.
94 Emotional/psychological stress.
95 Mental disorder.
96 Shock.

The denotes a required field. 7–17 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H Fire Service Casualty Module - H

97 Unconscious.
98 Pain only.
00 Primary apparent symptom, other.
UU Undetermined.

H2 Primary Part of Body Injured

Definition
The body part or area that was affected or sustained the most serious injury.

Purpose
An analysis of the data from Blocks G5, H1, and H2 will assist in the development of protec-
tive clothing, equipment, safe operating procedures, and safety training.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description of the part of the body that was most seriously
injured. It should be the same part of the body affected by the Primary Apparent Symptom. If
no body part was injured, check or mark the None box.

Example
A firefighter was overcome by smoke (81):
Primary Part of Body Injured None
H2
8 1 Lungs
Primary injured body part

PRIMARY PART OF BODY INJURED CODES

Head
11 Ear.
12 Eye.
13 Nose.
14 Mouth. Includes lips, teeth, and interior.
10 Head, other.

Neck and Shoulders

21 Neck.
22 Throat.
23 Shoulder.

Thorax
31 Back. Excludes spine (51).
32 Chest.

Abdominal Area
41 Abdomen.
42 Pelvis or groin.
43 Hip, lower back, or buttocks.

Spine
51 Spine. Excludes back (31).

The denotes a required field. 7–18 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I Fire Service Casualty Module - I

Upper Extremities
61 Arm, upper. Excludes elbows (63) and shoulders (23).
62 Arm, lower. Excludes elbows (63) and wrists (64).
63 Elbow.
64 Wrist.
65 Hand and fingers.

Lower Extremities
71 Leg, upper. Excludes knees (73).
72 Leg, lower. Excludes knees (73), ankles (74), and foot and toes (75).
73 Knee.
74 Ankle.
75 Foot and toes.

Internal
81 Trachea and lungs.
82 Heart.
83 Stomach.
84 Intestinal tract.
85 Genito-urinary.
80 Internal, other.

Multiple Parts
91 Multiple body parts, upper body.
92 Multiple body parts, lower body.
93 Multiple body parts, whole body.

Other Body Parts

00 Part of body injured, other.
NN None.
UU Undetermined.

SECTION I I

This section collects information on the cause and factor that contributed to the firefighter’s injury
and whether an object was involved.

I1 Cause of Firefighter Injury

Definition
The action or lack of action that directly resulted in the injury.

Purpose
An analysis of this information may permit an understanding of the condition causing the
injury and a means of planning suitable preventive techniques. For example, firefighter inju-
ries resulting from a blow to the head may indicate inadequacies in helmet design.

The denotes a required field. 7–19 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I Fire Service Casualty Module - I

Entry
Enter the code and a written description for the immediate cause or condition responsible for
the injury.

Example
A firefighter receives burns (4) on the forearm:

Cause of Firefighter Injury

I1
4 Exposure
Cause of injury

CAUSE OF FIREFIGHTER INJURY CODES

1 Fall.
2 Jump.
3 Slip/trip.
4 Exposure to hazard. Includes exposure to heat, smoke, or toxic agents.
5 Struck or assaulted by person, animal, moving object.
6 Contact with object (firefighter moved into or onto object). Includes running into
objects, stepping on objects, or grabbing a hot or electrically charged object.
7 Overexertion/strain.
0 Cause of injury, other.
U Undetermined.

I2 Factor Contributing to Injury

. Factor Contributing to Injury was a part of Cause of Fire Fighter Injury in NFIRS 4.1.
Definition
The most significant factor contributing to the injury of the fire service casualty.

Purpose
This element provides additional information on how an injury occurred. The analysis of this
information may permit an understanding of the events causing the injury and a means of
planning suitable preventive techniques.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description of the most significant factor contributing to the
injury. Check or mark the None box if there was no apparent factor that contributed to the
injury.

Example
The firefighter suffered from smoke inhalation after becoming disoriented and lost in the
building (32):
Factor Contributing to Injury None
I2
3 2 Lost in the building
Contributing factor

The denotes a required field. 7–20 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I Fire Service Casualty Module - I

FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO INJURY CODES

Collapse or Falling Object

11 Roof collapse.
12 Wall collapse.
13 Floor collapse.
14 Ceiling collapse.
15 Stair collapse.
16 Falling objects.
17 Cave-in (earth).
10 Collapse or falling object, other.

Fire Development
21 Fire progress. Includes smoky conditions.
22 Backdraft.
23 Flashover.
24 Explosion.
20 Fire development, other.

Lost, Caught, Trapped, or Confined

31 Person physically caught or trapped. Excludes persons directly injured by a
structural collapse or falling object (10 series).
32 Lost in building.
33 Operating in confined structural areas. Includes attics and crawl spaces.
34 Operating under water or ice.
30 Lost, caught, trapped, or confined, other.

Holes
41 Unguarded hole in structure.
42 Hole burned through roof.
43 Hole burned through floor.
40 Holes, other.

Slippery or Uneven Surfaces

51 Icy surface.
52 Wet surface. Includes water, soap, foam, lubricating materials, etc.
53 Loose material on surface.
54 Uneven surface. Includes holes in the ground.
50 Slippery or uneven surfaces, other.

Vehicle or Apparatus
61 Vehicle left road or overturned.
62 Vehicle collided with another vehicle.
63 Vehicle collided with nonvehicular object.
64 Vehicle stopped too fast.
65 Seat belt not fastened.
66 Firefighter standing on apparatus.
60 Vehicle or apparatus, other.

Other Contributing Factors

91 Civil unrest. Includes riots and civil disturbances.
92 Hostile acts.
00 Factor contributing to injury, other.
NN None.
UU Undetermined.

The denotes a required field. 7–21 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I Fire Service Casualty Module - I

Object Involved in Injury

I3 Definition
The description of the object, if one was involved, that contributed to the injury of the fire ser-
vice casualty.

Purpose
This field provides additional information on how a casualty occurred. The analysis of this
information, in combination with other entries, may permit an understanding of the events
causing the injury and a means of planning suitable preventive techniques.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description of the object involved in the injury. If no object was
involved, check or mark the None box.

Example
The firefighter received a cut on the forearm when a piece of glass dropped from a second-
story window (43):
Object Involved None
I3 in Injury

4 3 Glass
Object involved in injury

OBJECT INVOLVED IN INJURY CODES

11 Coupling.
12 Hose, not charged.
13 Hose, charged.
14 Water from master stream.
15 Water from hose line.
16 Water, not from a hose.
17 Steam.
18 Extinguishing agent, not water.
21 Ladder, aerial.
22 Ladder, ground.
23 Tools/equipment.
24 Knife, scissors.
25 Syringe.
26 Fire department vehicle or apparatus.
27 Fire department vehicle door. Includes apparatus compartments.
28 Station sliding pole.
31 Curb.
32 Door in building.
33 Fire escape.
34 Ledge.
35 Stairs.
36 Wall. Includes other vertical surfaces such as cliffs.
37 Window.
38 Roof.
39 Floor or ceiling.
30 Structural component, other.

The denotes a required field. 7–22 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Fire Service Casualty Module - J

41 Asbestos.
42 Dirt, stones, or debris.
43 Glass.
45 Nails.
46 Splinters.
47 Embers.
48 Hot tar.
49 Hot metal.
51 Biological agents.
52 Chemicals.
53 Fumes, gases, or smoke.
54 Poisonous plants.
55 Insects.
56 Radioactive materials.
61 Electricity.
62 Extreme weather.
63 Utility flames, flares, torches.
64 Heat or flame.
91 Person: victim.
92 Property and structure contents.
93 Animal.
94 Non-fire department vehicle.
95 Gun. Includes all other projectile weapons.
90 Person, other.
00 Object involved in injury, other.
NN None.
UU Undetermined.

SECTION J J

This section captures information on the specific location where the firefighter was injured and, if
in a vehicle, the type of vehicle involved.

J1 Where Injury Occurred

Definition
The place where the injury occurred. This location may be en route to or from the scene, at the
incident scene, at the station, or some other location.

Purpose
In conjunction with other fields, this element can help identify why the firefighter sustained a
certain type of injury. It can indicate areas in which safety training and safer operating proce-
dures may be necessary.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes where the injury took place.

The denotes a required field. 7–23 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Fire Service Casualty Module - J

Example
A firefighter was killed en route to a call when the tanker overturned (3):
Where Injury Occurred
J1
1 En route to FD location
2 At FD location
3 X En route to incident scene
4 En route to medical facility
5 At scene in structure
6 At scene outside
7 At medical facility
8 Returning from incident
9 Returning from med facility
0 Other
U Undetermined

WHERE INJURY OCCURRED CODES

1 En route to fire department location. Includes volunteers responding to the fire

station or apparatus traveling between fire department locations.
2 At fire department location.
3 En route to incident or assignment.
4 En route to medical facility.
5 At scene, in structure.
6 At scene, outside structure.
7 At medical facility.
8 Returning from incident or assignment.
9 Returning from medical facility.
0 Where injury occurred, other.
U Undetermined.

J2 Story Where Injury Occurred

Definition
This element identifies the story where the injury occurred.

Purpose
This entry provides additional information on where the injury occurred, which can help in
directing injury prevention efforts. This element, combined with other elements, better
describes the accident scene.

Entry
If the injury occurred inside or on a structure, enter the story where the injury occurred. If the
story is below grade, check or mark the Below Grade box.

. Complete this block only if the injury occurred inside a structure.

. Checking or marking the Below Grade box has the effect of entering a negative number
in NFIRS 5.0.

The denotes a required field. 7–24 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Fire Service Casualty Module - J

Example
The casualty occurred inside the building on the third story:
Story Where Injury Occurred
J2
Check this box and enter the story if the
1
injury occurred inside or on a structure

3 Story of injury Below grade

2 Injury occurred outside

J3 Specific Location Where Injury Occurred

Definition
This element identifies the specific location of the fire service casualty at the time of injury.

Purpose
This element provides additional information on where the injury occurred. This can be help-
ful in directing injury prevention efforts.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the specific location at time of injury.

. If any code greater than 60 is checked or marked, continue to Block J4.

Example
The firefighter sprained an ankle climbing down a ground ladder (25):

Specific Location Where

J3 Injury Occurred
65 In aircraft
64 In boat, ship, or barge Complete
63 In rail vehicle Block J4
61 In motor vehicle
54 In sewer
53 In tunnel
49 In structure
45 In attic
00 Other
36 In water UU Undetermined
35 In well
34 In ravine
33 In quarry or mine
32 In ditch or trench
31 In open pit
28 On steep grade
27 On fire escape/outside stairs
26 On vertical surface or ledge
25 X On ground ladder
24 On aerial ladder or in basket
23 On roof
22 Outside at grade

The denotes a required field. 7–25 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J Fire Service Casualty Module - J

SPECIFIC LOCATION WHERE INJURY OCCURRED CODES

22 Outside at grade.
23 On roof.
24 On aerial ladder or in basket.
25 On ground ladder.
26 On vertical surface or ledge.
27 On fire escape or outside stairway.
28 On steep grade.
31 In open pit.
32 In ditch or trench.
33 In quarry or mine.
34 In ravine.
35 In well.
36 In water.
45 In attic or other confined structural space.
49 In structure. Excludes attic, roof, or wall.
53 In tunnel.
54 In sewer.
61 In motor vehicle.
63 In rail vehicle.
64 In boat, ship, or barge.
65 In aircraft.
00 Specific location where injury occurred, other.
UU Undetermined.

J4 Vehicle Type
Definition
Identifies the type of vehicle that the firefighter was in at time of injury.

Purpose
This element provides more information on where and how the injury occurred. This can be
helpful in directing injury prevention efforts.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the vehicle type.

. Complete this block only if the Specific Location code (Block J3) is greater than 60.
Example
The volunteer firefighter was injured in his personal vehicle on the way to a call:
Vehicle Type Complete ONLY if
J4 Specific Location code
is >60
1 Suppression vehicle
2 EMS vehicle
3 Other FD vehicle
4 X Non-FD vehicle

The denotes a required field. 7–26 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Fire Service Casualty Module - K

VEHICLE TYPE CODES

1 Suppression vehicle.
2 EMS vehicle.
3 Other fire department vehicle. Includes passenger vehicles.
4 Non-fire department vehicle. Includes private auto.
N None.

SECTION K K

Information on whether firefighter equipment failed and contributed to the injury is collected in
this section.

K1 Equipment Sequence Number

Definition
A unique number assigned to each piece of faulty equipment worn or used by the injured fire-
fighter.

Purpose
In conjunction with other field in the section, the sequence number permits each piece of
equipment associated with an injury to be identified separately on the casualty file.

Entry
If no equipment failed, check or mark the No box, which completes the entries of this module.
If protective equipment failed and it contributed to the injury, check or mark the Yes box and
complete the remainder of this section (Blocks K1 through K4). Enter the equipment
sequence number. A separate Equipment Sequence Number is assigned to each piece of
equipment that failed and contributed to the injury. The first equipment is always coded
“001,” and each succeeding equipment is numbered sequentially and incremented by 1 begin-
ning with “002.” The three-character numeric field is zero filled, not right justified.

. A separate form is required for each piece of equipment that failed and contributed to the
injury.

Example
The first piece of faulty equipment associated with an injury to a firefighter:
Equipment
K1 Did protective equipment fail and contribute to the injury? Yes Y X
Sequence
Please complete the remainder of this form ONLY if you answer YES. No N Number 0 0 1

EQUIPMENT FAILED CODES

Y Yes.
N No.

The denotes a required field. 7–27 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Fire Service Casualty Module - K

Protective Equipment Item

K2 . Protective Equipment Item replaces the five individual equipment lists in NFIRS 4.1
Definition
This block records information about the faulty protective equipment item that was a factor in
the firefighter’s injury.

Purpose
This element provides more information on why the injury occurred and may help detect
problems with equipment that could lead to future injuries.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the piece of protective equipment that failed and
contributed to the injury.

Example
The firefighter’s face piece melted (12) causing burns on the side of his face:
Protective Equipment Item
K2
Head or Face Protection

11 Helmet
12 X Full face protector Note: This example represents only one portion of
13 Partial face protector Block K2. The actual module lists all Protective
14 Goggles/eye protection Equipment Item codes.
15 Hood
16 Ear protector
17 Neck protector
10 Other

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ITEM CODES

Head or Face Protection

11 Helmet.
12 Full face protector.
13 Partial face protector.
14 Goggles/eye protection.
15 Hood.
16 Ear protector.
17 Neck protector.
10 Head or face protection, other.

Coat, Shirt, or Trousers

21 Protective coat.
22 Protective trousers.
23 Uniform shirt.
24 Uniform T-shirt.
25 Uniform trousers.
26 Uniform coat or jacket.
27 Coveralls.
28 Apron or gown.
20 Coat, shirt, or trousers, other.

The denotes a required field. 7–28 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Fire Service Casualty Module - K

Boots or Shoes
31 Knee-length boots with steel baseplate and steel toes.
32 Knee-length boots with steel toes only.
33 3/4-length boots with steel baseplate and steel toes.
34 3/4-length boots with steel toes only.
35 Boots without steel baseplate or steel toes.
36 Safety shoes with steel baseplate and steel toes.
37 Safety shoes with steel toes only.
38 Non-safety shoes.
30 Boots or shoes, other.

Respiratory Protection
41 Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), demand, open circuit.
42 Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), positive pressure, open circuit.
43 Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), closed circuit.
44 Non-self-contained breathing apparatus.
45 Cartridge respirator.
46 Dust or particle mask.
40 Respiratory protection, other.

Hand Protection
51 Firefighter gloves with wristlets.
52 Firefighter gloves without wristlets.
53 Work gloves.
54 HazMat gloves.
55 Medical gloves.
50 Hand protection, other.

Special Equipment
61 Proximity suit for entry.
62 Proximity suit for non-entry.
63 Totally encapsulated, reusable chemical suit.
64 Totally encapsulated, disposable chemical suit.
65 Partially encapsulated, reusable chemical suit.
66 Partially encapsulated, disposable chemical suit.
67 Flash protection suit.
68 Flight or jump suit.
69 Brush suit.

Special Equipment Continued

71 Exposure suit.
72 Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA).
73 Life preserver.
74 Life belt or ladder belt.
75 Personal alert safety system (PASS).
76 Radio distress device.
77 Personal lighting.
78 Fire shelter or tent.
79 Vehicle safety belt.
70 Special equipment, other.
00 Protective equipment item, other.

The denotes a required field. 7–29 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Fire Service Casualty Module - K

Protective Equipment Problem

K3 . Protective Equipment Problem replaces the five individual equipment problem lists in
NFIRS 4.1

Definition
The most serious problem with the piece of equipment that failed and contributed to the
injury.

Purpose
Provides additional information on why the injury occurred and highlights problems with spe-
cific equipments.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the protective equipment problem.

Example
The firefighter’s face piece melted (12):

Protective Equipment Problem

K3
Check one box to indicate the main problem that occurred

11 Burned
12 X Melted
21 Fractured, cracked or broken
22 Punctured
23 Scratched
24 Knocked off
25 Cut or ripped
31 Trapped steam or hazardous gas
32 Insufficient insulation
33 Object fell in or onto equipment item
41 Failed under impact
42 Face piece or hose detached
43 Exhalation valve inoperative or damaged
44 Harness detached or separated
45 Regulator failed to operate
46 Regulator damaged by contact
47 Problem with admissions valve
48 Alarm failed to operate
49 Alarm damaged by contact
51 Supply cylinder or valve failed to operate
52 Supply cylinder/valve damaged by contact
53 Supply cylinder—insufficient air/oxygen
94 Did not fit properly
95 Not properly serviced or stored prior to use
96 Not used for designed purpose
97 Not used as recommended by manufacturer
00 Other equipment problem
UU Undetermined

The denotes a required field. 7–30 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Fire Service Casualty Module - K

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PROBLEM CODES

11 Burned.
12 Melted.
21 Fractured, cracked, or broke.
22 Punctured.
23 Scratched.
24 Knocked off.
25 Cut or ripped.
31 Trapped steam or hazardous gas.
32 Insufficient insulation.
33 Object fell in or onto equipment item.
41 Failed under impact.
42 Face piece or hose detached.
43 Exhalation valve inoperative or damaged.
44 Harness detached or separated.
45 Regulator failed to operate.
46 Regulator damaged by contact.
47 Problem with admissions valve.
48 Alarm failed to operate.
49 Alarm damaged by contact.
51 Supply cylinder or valve failed to operate.
52 Supply cylinder or valve damaged by contact.
53 Supply cylinder contained insufficient air or oxygen.
94 Did not fit properly.
95 Not properly serviced or stored prior to use.
96 Not used for designed purpose.
97 Not used as recommended by manufacturer.
00 Protective equipment problem, other.
UU Undetermined.

K4 Equipment Manufacturer, Model, and Serial Number

Definition
This block identifies the specific equipment that failed.

Manufacturer is to the name of the company that made the piece of equipment.

Model is to the manufacturer’s model name. If one does not exist, use the equipment’s
common physical description.

Serial Number is to the manufacturer’s serial number that is generally stamped on an iden-
tification plate on the equipment. Lot number may also be used here if no serial number is
available.

Purpose
These data elements provide detailed information on the specific equipment that failed and
contributed to the injury. Data on model and other information are useful in determining the
compliance with standards for protective equipment involved in firefighting and for analyzing
the effectiveness of these codes, standards, and regulations.

The denotes a required field. 7–31 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K Fire Service Casualty Module - K

Entry
Enter the manufacturer’s name, the model name, and the serial number.

. The actual length of each of these three fields is 12 characters. Complete as much as pos-
sible to provide a positive identification.

Example
The face piece that melted was a Lingo Model 23–001, serial number 147AC01.

Equipment Manufacturer, Model, and Serial

K4 Number
Lingo Inc.
Manufacturer

Z3-001
Model
1 4 7 A C 0 1
Serial Number

The denotes a required field. 7–32 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 EMS Module

Basic Module
(NFIRS–1)

Fire Module
(NFIRS–2)

Chapter 8
Structure Fire Module
EMS MODULE (NFIRS–6) (NFIRS–3)

Civilian Fire
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–4)

Fire Service
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–5)

EMS Module
State NFIRS (NFIRS–6)
Reporting Authority

HazMat Module
(NFIRS–7)

U.S. Fire Administration

NATIONAL FIRE DATA CENTER
Wildland Fire
Module (NFIRS–8)

Apparatus/
Personnel Modules
(NFIRS–9/–10)

Arson Module
(NFIRS–11)
The denotes a required field. 8–1 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 EMS Module

MM DD YYYY NFIRS–6
Delete
A Incident Date Change EMS
FDID State Station Incident Number Exposure

Month Day Year Hour/Min

Number of Patients Patient Number Date/Time
B C Time Arrived at Patient
Check if same date
as Alarm date
Use a separate form for each patient Time of Patient Transfer

D Provider Impression/Assessment Check one box only None/no patient or refused treatment

10 Abdominal pain 18 Chest pain 26 Hypovolemia 34 Sexual assault

11 Airway obstruction 19 Diabetic symptom 27 Inhalation injury 35 Sting/bite
12 Allergic reaction 20 Do not resuscitate 28 Obvious death 36 Stroke/CVA
13 Altered LOC 21 Electrocution 29 OD/poisoning 37 Syncope
14 Behavioral/psych 22 General illness 30 Pregnancy/OB 38 Trauma
15 Burns 23 Hemorrhaging/bleeding 31 Respiratory arrest 00 Other
16 Cardiac arrest 24 Hyperthermia 32 Respiratory distress
17 Cardiac dysrhythmia 25 Hypothermia 33 Seizure

Age or Date of Birth Race Human Factors None Other

E1 F1 G1 Contributing to Injury G2 Factors
None
1 White
2 Black, African American
Months (for infants)
3 Am. Indian, Alaska Native
Check all applicable boxes If an illness, not an
Age 4 Asian 1 Asleep injury, skip G2 and
OR 5 Native Hawaiian, Other 2 Unconscious go to H3
Pacific Islander Possibly impaired by alcohol
3
0 Other, multiracial
Month Day Year U Undetermined 4 Possibly impaired by drug 1 Accidental
5 Possibly mentally disabled 2 Self-inflicted
Gender Ethnicity 6 Physically disabled 3 Inflicted, not self
E2 F2 1 7 Physically restrained
Hispanic or Latino
1 Male 2 Female 2 Non Hispanic or Latino 8 Unattended person

Body Site of Injury Injury Type Cause of

H1 List up to five body sites
H2 List one injury type for each body site listed under H1
H3 Illness/Injury

Cause of illness/injury

Procedures Used Safety Cardiac Arrest

I Check all applicable boxes No treatment
J None K
Airway insertion 14 Equipment Check all applicable boxes
01 Intubation (EGTA)
02 Anti-shock trousers 15 Intubation (ET) Used or deployed by patient.
1 Pre-arrival arrest?
Check all applicable boxes.
03 Assist ventilation 16 IO/IV therapy If pre-arrival arrest, was it:
04 Bleeding control 17 Medications therapy 1 Safety/seat belts
Burn care 18 1 Witnessed?
05 Oxygen therapy 2 Child safety seat
06 Cardiac pacing 19 OB care/delivery 3 2 Bystander CPR?
Airbag
07 Cardioversion (defib) manual 20 Prearrival instructions 4 Helmet 2 Post-arrival arrest?
08 Chest/abdominal thrust 21 Restrain patient 5 Protective clothing
09 CPR 22 Spinal immobilization 6 Flotation device Initial Arrest Rhythm
10 Cricothyroidotomy 23 Splinted extremities 0 Other
11 Defibrillation by AED 24 Suction/aspirate 1 V-Fib/V-Tach
U Undetermined
12 EKG monitoring 00 Other 0 Other
13 Extrication U Undetermined

Highest Level of Care Patient Status

L1 Initial Level of
L2 Provided On Scene
None M N
EMS Not transported
Provider Disposition
1 Improved
1 First Responder 1 2 Remained same 1 FD transport to ECF
First Responder
2 EMT-B (Basic) 2 3 Worsened 2 Non-FD transport
EMT-B (Basic)
3 EMT-I (Intermediate) 3 3 Non-FD trans/FD attend
EMT-I (Intermediate) Check if:
4 EMT-P (Paramedic) 4 4 Non-emergency transfer
EMT-P (Paramedic) 1
0 Other provider Pulse on transfer 0 Other
0 Other provider 2
N No Training No pulse on transfer NFIRS–6 Revision 01/01/04

The denotes a required field. 8–2 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A EMS Module - A

CHAPTER 8

EMS MODULE (NFIRS–6)

he EMS Module is an optional module. It should be used when that option has been
T chosen by your state or local authorities.

. This module is completed only if the fire department provides emergency medical ser-
vice. If an independent provider performs EMS, do not use this module.

The purpose of the EMS Module is to gather basic data as it relates to the provision of emergency
medical care to the community. It is may be used by both responding EMS unit(s) and responding
fire suppression unit(s) that provide emergency medical services. This module does not include
patient car information. The data collected from this form are incident based not patient based.

The EMS Module is not intended to replace or otherwise interfere with state or local EMS patient
care reporting requirements. Instead, it is the intent that the data elements contained in this mod-
ule be viewed as “core elements” and be included in the design of upgrades or new EMS data col-
lection systems.

The EMS Module may be completed when an Incident Type 100–243, 351–381, 400–431, 451, or
900 is reported in Section C of the Basic Module (NFIRS–1).

. If the EMS is a fire casualty, completion of a separate Fire Service Casualty Module
(NFIRS–5) is required

SECTION A A

The guidance and directions for completing Section A of the EMS Module are the same as for
Section A in the Basic Module. It is stressed that the entries in Section A of the EMS Module
must be identical with the entries on the corresponding Basic Module. An example of a completed
Section A can be found on page 3–8.

A Fire Department Identification (FDID)

Entry
Enter the same FDID number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

State
Entry
Enter the same state abbreviation found in Section A of the Basic Module.

The denotes a required field. 8–3 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A EMS Module - A

Incident Date
Entry
Enter the same incident date found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Station Number
Entry
Enter the same station number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Incident Number
Entry
Enter the same incident number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Exposure Number
Entry
If the casualty resulted from an exposure fire, enter the same exposure number that was
entered in Section A of the Basic Module for that exposure.

Delete/Change
Definition
Indicates a change to information submitted on a previous EMS Module or a deletion of all
information regarding that patient.

Purpose
To delete or change previously reported information.

Entry
Delete. Check or mark this box when you have previously submitted data on this EMS patient
and now want to have the data on this patient deleted from the database. If this box is marked,
complete Section A, the Patient Number originally assigned (Section B), and leave the rest of
the report blank. Forward the report according to your normally established procedures.

Change. Check or mark this box only if you previously submitted this fire incident to your
state reporting authority and now want to update or change the information in the state data-
base. Complete Section A and any other sections or blocks that need to be updated or cor-
rected. If you need to blank a field that contains data, you must resubmit the original module
containing the newly blanked field along with all the other original information in the module
for that incident. This action is required only when sending an updated module to your state
reporting authority. Forward the report according to your normally established procedures.

The denotes a required field. 8–4 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B EMS Module - B

SECTION B B

B Number of Patients
Definition
Total number of patients who were treated by fire department emergency responders at the
EMS incident.

Purpose
Fire departments can track the number of patients they treated at each EMS incident and iden-
tify how many EMS Modules should be completed for the incident (one per patient).

Entry
Enter the total number of patients.

. Complete a separate EMS Module for each patient treated.

Example
Two people were injured in a bicycle accident:

Number of Patients Patient Number

B
2
Use a separate form for each patient

Patient Number
Definition
A unique number is assigned to each patient treated at a single EMS incident.

Purpose
The patient number identifies each EMS patient separately in the EMS file. Data and other
information concerning the patient can be accessed using this number in conjunction with
other unique field information.

Entry
Enter the identification number assigned to this patient. A separate Patient Number is
assigned to each EMS patient. The first patient is always coded “001,” and each succeeding
patient is numbered sequentially and incremented by 1 beginning with “002.” The three-
character numeric field is zero filled, not right justified.

Example
Three patients needed medical attention in the wrecked automobile; this report is for patient
number two:

The denotes a required field. 8–5 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C EMS Module - C

Number of Patients Patient Number

B
3 0 0 2
Use a separate form for each patient

SECTION C C

C Date and Time Arrived at Patient and Time of Patient Transfer

Definitions
Time arrived at patient. The time when the fire department’s emergency personnel established
direct contact with the patient.

Time of patient transfer. The time when the response unit physically left the scene to transport
the patient to an emergency care facility or the time when the patient was transferred to
another care provider.

Purpose
This information is needed to analyze time spent providing patient care on the scene of an
incident. If the Apparatus/Personnel Module (NFIRS–9/–10) is also used, then this element
can document situations when there is a significant delay between the time the response unit
arrives on the scene and the time at which personnel can access the patient.

Entry
For each incident, enter the dates (mm/dd/yyyy) and times of day (using the 24-hour clock)
when emergency personnel arrived at the patient and when the patient was transferred to
another care provider. Midnight is 0000 and signifies the start of a new day.

. If the date(s) is the same as the Alarm date (Block E1, Basic Module), check the box(es)
and enter only the time of day.

Example
The fire department BLS unit arrived at the patient at 0105 on July 2, 2002. The patient was
transferred to the hospital 14 minutes later at 0199:
Date/Time Month Day Year Hour/Min
C Time Arrived at Patient 0 7 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 5
Check if same date
as Alarm date 0 7 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 1 1 9
Time of Patient Transfer

The denotes a required field. 8–6 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D EMS Module - D

SECTION D D

D Provider Impression/Assessment
Definition
The emergency care provider’s primary clinical assessment that led to the management (treat-
ments, medications, procedures) given to the patient.

Purpose
This element identifies whether or not the treatments or medications provided were consistent
with the protocols related to the clinical impression.

Entry
Check or mark the box (one only) that best describes the emergency provider’s impression/
assessment. When more than one choice is applicable to the patient, choose the single most
significant clinical assessment that drove the choice of treatment. Check or mark the None/No
Patient or Refused Treatment box when there is no patient upon arrival or if the patient
refused treatment.

Example
The patient suffered a traumatic injury as a result of a bicycle fall (38):
None/no patient or refused treatment
D Provider Impression/Assessment Check one box only

10 Abdominal pain 18 Chest pain 26 Hypovolemia 34 Sexual assault

11 Airway obstruction 19 Diabetic symptom 27 Inhalation injury 35 Sting/bite
12 Allergic reaction 20 Do not resuscitate 28 Obvious death 36 Stroke/CVA
13 Altered LOC 21 Electrocution 29 OD/poisoning 37 Syncope
14 Behavioral/psych 22 General illness 30 Pregnancy/OB 38 X Trauma
15 Burns 23 Hemorrhaging/bleeding 31 Respiratory arrest 00 Other
16 Cardiac arrest 24 Hyperthermia 32 Respiratory distress
17 Cardiac dysrhythmia 25 Hypothermia 33 Seizure

PROVIDER IMPRESSION/ASSESSMENT CODES

10 Abdominal pain. Includes an acute or painful abdomen and cramps. Excludes

abdominal trauma (38).
11 Airway obstruction. Includes choking, swelling of the neck, croup, epiglottis, and a
foreign body in the airway.
12 Allergic reaction. Includes reaction to drugs, plants, and insects. Reactions include
hives, urticaria, and wheezing. Excludes stings and venomous bites (35).
13 Altered level of consciousness. Includes patients who appear to be substance
abusers or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
14 Behavioral: mental status, psychiatric disorder. Includes all situations in which a
behavioral or psychiatric problem is considered the major problem for the EMS
provider.
15 Burns.
16 Cardiac arrest.
17 Cardiac dysrhythmia. Includes any rhythm disturbance that was noted on the
physical examination or with a cardiac monitor when the rhythm was the major
clinical reason for care rendered by the EMS responder.

The denotes a required field. 8–7 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E EMS Module - E

18 Chest pain. Includes patients with chest pain related to heart disease, upset
stomach, or muscle pain in the chest wall.
19 Diabetic symptom, related to history of diabetes. Includes hypoglycemia,
ketoacidosis, and other complications of diabetes.
20 Do not resuscitate. Use when there is a legal requirement to prevent emergency
medical personnel from initiating CPR.
21 Electrocution.
22 General illness.
23 Hemorrhaging/bleeding. Includes vaginal bleeding, GI bleeding, and epistaxis.
When pregnancy is involved, only use bleeding if this is the major concern to the
EMS responder.
24 Hyperthermia.
25 Hypothermia. Usually relates to environmental hypothermia, such as following
submersion in cold water, avalanches, or other environmental exposures.
26 Hypovolemia. Includes patients with clinical shock, usually felt to be hypovolemic.
27 Inhalation injury, toxic gases. Includes smoke inhalation. Excludes overdose and
poisoning (29).
28 Obvious death. Patients who were dead upon arrival and no therapy was
undertaken.
29 Overdose/poisoning. Includes taking inappropriate drugs, overdosing, and
poisoning from chemicals. Excludes inhalation of toxic gases (27).
30 Pregnancy/OB. Includes all aspects of obstetric care rendered in the pre-hospital
setting.
31 Respiratory arrest. Includes incidents where the patient stops breathing and
requires ventilatory support on at least a temporary basis.
32 Respiratory distress. Includes patients who have only spontaneous breathing.
33 Seizure. Includes major and minor seizures.
34 Apparent sexual assault or rape.
35 Sting/bite. Includes poisonous snakes, insects, bees, wasps, ants, etc. If an allergic
reaction occurs, use code 12.
36 Stroke, cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
37 Syncope, fainting.
38 Trauma. Excludes abdominal pain (10).
00 Provider impression/assessment, other.
NN None/no patient or refused treatment.

SECTION E E

E1 Age or Date of Birth

Enter either the patient’s age or the patient’s date of birth. Do not enter both.

Age
Definition
The patient’s age in years or, if the patient is an infant, the age in months.

Purpose
The age of the patient provides an indication of fire loss. Age can also be used to indicate
type, severity, and cause of illness/injury to identify trends and patterns that might be helpful
in planning injury prevention techniques.

The denotes a required field. 8–8 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E EMS Module - E

Entry
Enter the age of the patient. Estimate the age if it cannot be determined. If the age is calcu-
lated in months, check or mark the Months (for Infants) box.

Example
The patient was 87 years old:
Age or Date of Birth
E1
8 7 Months (for infants)

Age
OR

Month Day Year

Date of Birth
Definition
The month, day, and year of birth of the patient.

Purpose
This data entry is an alternative entry to Age. It can provide an indication of fire loss, and can
be used to indicate type, severity, and cause of illness/injury to identify trends and patterns
that might be helpful in planning injury prevention techniques.

. This data element is used as an alternate method for calculating the patient’s age. Age is
collected in NFIRS but Date of Birth is not.

Entry
Enter the date of birth showing the month, day, and year (mm/dd/yyyy).

Example
The patient was born on January 7, 1910:

Age or Date of Birth

E1
Months (for infants)

Age
OR
0 1 0 7 1 9 1 0
Month Day Year

E2 Gender
Definition
The identification of the patient as male or female.

Purpose
This entry assists in identifying the individual and for tracking trends and patterns.

The denotes a required field. 8–9 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F EMS Module - F

Gender
E2
1 X Male 2 Female

Entry
Check or mark the box that indicates the patient’s gender.

Example
The patient was a male (1):

GENDER CODES

1 Male.
2 Female.

SECTION F F

F1 Race
Definition
The identification of the race of the patient, based on U.S. Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) designations.

Purpose
This entry is useful for the study of diseases and important to data systems in order to obtain
certain federal or state funds that are directed toward specific racial groups.

Entry
Check or mark the appropriate box. If race cannot be determined, check or mark the Undeter-
mined box.

. Hispanic is not considered a race, because a person can be black and Hispanic, white and
Hispanic, etc.

Example
The patient was a white male (1):
Race
F1
1 X White
2 Black, African American
3 American Indian, Alaska Native
4 Asian
5 Native Hawaiian, Other
Pacific Islander
0 Other, multiracial
U Undetermined

The denotes a required field. 8–10 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F EMS Module - F

RACE CODES

1 White.
2 Black or African American.
3 American Indian or Alaska Native.
4 Asian.
5 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.
0 Other. Includes multiracial.
U Undetermined.

F2 Ethnicity
Definition
Identifies the ethnicity of the patient. Ethnicity is an ethnic classification or affiliation. Ethnic-
ity designates a population subgroup having a common cultural heritage, as distinguished by
customs, characteristics, language, common history, etc. Currently, Hispanic/Latino is the
only OMB designation for ethnicity.

Purpose
This entry permits an analysis of patients by ethnicity with type, severity, and cause of injury
to identify trends and patterns that might be helpful in planning injury prevention techniques.
It is also useful for studies of diseases and important to data systems in order to obtain certain
federal or state funds that are directed toward specific ethnic groups.

Entry
Check or mark the appropriate box.

Example
The patient was an Hispanic (1):
Ethnicity
F2
1 X Hispanic or Latino
0 Non Hispanic or Latino

ETHNICITY CODES

1 Hispanic or Latino.
0 Non Hispanic or Latino.

The denotes a required field. 8–11 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G EMS Module - G

SECTION G G

This entries in this section collects information on the factors that contributed to the injury of the
patient.

G1 Human Factors Contributing to Injury

. Human Factors Contributing to Injury was known as Condition Before Injury in
NFIRS 4.1.

Definition
The physical or mental state of the person shortly before becoming a patient.

Purpose
This is an important data element for injury research used by public health researchers and
policy makers. It is also useful for understanding the relationship between human factors and
incident type, such as automobile accidents where the driver was “possibly impaired by
alcohol.”

Entry
Check or mark all the applicable boxes describing the human factors that contributed to the
patient’s injury. If no human factor was involved, check or mark the None box.

Example
A cigarette burned the patient after she fell asleep (1):

Human Factors None

G1 Contributing to Injury
Check all applicable boxes
1 X Asleep
2 Unconscious
3 Possibly impaired by alcohol
4 Possibly impaired by drug
5 Possibly mentally disabled
6 Physically disabled
7 Physically restrained
8 Unattended person

HUMAN FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO INJURY CODES

1 Asleep, no known impairment.

2 Unconscious.
3 Possibly impaired by alcohol.
4 Possibly impaired by other drug or chemical.
5 Possibly mentally disabled.
6 Physically disabled. Includes temporary conditions or overexertion.
7 Physically restrained.
8 Unattended or unsupervised person. Includes persons too young/old to act.
N None.

The denotes a required field. 8–12 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H EMS Module - H

Other Factors
G2 Definition
Factors contributing to the patient’s injury other than those covered by Human Factors (Block
G1).

. If the response was to an illness instead of an injury, skip to Block H3.

Purpose
This is an important data element for injury research used by public health researchers and
policy makers. This information is useful in determining the need for special training and
safety precautions. It also helps identify trends and patterns such as the trend of inflicted
(hostile) injuries over an extended period of time.

Entry
Check or mark the appropriate box. If the three codes are not applicable, check or mark the
None box.

Example
A dog attacked the patient (3):

Other None
G2 Factors

If an illness, not an
injury, skip G2 and
go to H3

1 Accidental
2 Self-inflicted
3 X Inflicted, not self

OTHER FACTORS CODES

1 Accidental.
2 Self-inflicted.
3 Inflicted, not self-inflicted. Includes attacks by animals and persons.
N None.

SECTION H H

This section collects information cause, type and location of the patient’s injury.

H1 Body Site of Injury

. Body Site of Injury was known as Part of Body Injured in NFIRS 4.1

The denotes a required field. 8–13 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H EMS Module - H

Definition
The area of the body that sustained the injury. This field is designed to be used in conjunction
with Injury Type (Block H2).

Purpose
When combined with Injury Type and Cause of Injury, this entry provides useful data for
EMS planners to track patient’s injuries that required the use of the EMS system.

Entry
Enter up to five parts of the body where injuries occurred. List the body site with the most
serious injury first. If the patient is suffering from an illness and not an injury, skip to Block
H3.

. This data element should reflect the clinical impression of the injury by the EMS
responder, not necessarily the final or correct diagnosis.

. Each Body Site entered should have an associated Injury Type (Block H2). There is a
one-to-one correspondence between Body Site and Injury Type.

Example
The patient’s abdomen (4) and left arm (6) were injured in the accident:

Body Site of Injury Injury Type

H1 List up to five body sites
H2 List one injury type for each body site listed under H1
4 Abdomen
6 Left arm

BODY SITE OF INJURY CODES

1 Head.
2 Neck and shoulder.
3 Thorax. Includes chest and back. Excludes spine (5).
4 Abdomen.
5 Spine. Excludes back (3).
6 Upper extremities. Includes arms and hands.
7 Lower extremities. Includes legs and feet.
8 Internal.
9 Multiple body parts.

The denotes a required field. 8–14 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H EMS Module - H

Injury Type
H2 Definition
The clinical description of the injury received by the patient.

Purpose
When combined with Body Site an Cause of Injury, this element enables EMS planners to
analyze the types of injuries treated by EMS responders. This entry can be correlated with
other data collected in the Basic and EMS Modules to provide useful information for tracking
trends and reducing injuries. When used in conjunction with follow-up patient information,
this data element is valuable in assessing the correlation between injury assessment in the
field and actual injuries as evaluated in medical facilities.

Entry
Enter a description of the primary injuries sustained by a patient for each part of the body
listed in Block H1. The first Injury Type is associated with the first Body Site of Injury listed
in Block H1, the second type with the second site, etc. Then select and record the appropriate
code number for injury type recorded. If the patient is suffering from an illness and not an
injury, skip to Block H3.

. Each Injury Type entered should have an associated Body Site (Block H2). There is a
one-to-one correspondence between Injury Type and Body Site.

Example
The patient had a laceration on the abdomen (16) and a fracture of the upper left arm (14):
Body Site of Injury Injury Type
H1 List up to five body sites
H2 List one injury type for each body site listed under H1
4 Abdomen 1 6 Laceration
6 Left arm 1 4 Fracture

INJURY TYPE CODES

10 Amputation.
11 Blunt injury.
12 Burn.
13 Crush.
14 Dislocation/fracture.
15 Gunshot.
16 Laceration.
17 Pain without swelling.
18 Puncture/stab.
19 Soft tissue swelling.
00 Injury type, other.

The denotes a required field. 8–15 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H EMS Module - H

Cause of Illness/Injury
H3 Definition
The physical event that caused the injury or illness.

Purpose
When combined with Body Site and Type of Injury, this element permits an understanding of
the conditions causing injury or illness and provide a means of developing strategies to reduce
injuries and sudden illnesses.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code that indicates the immediate cause or condition responsible for the
injury or illness.

Example
The cause of the patient’s injuries was a fall from a bicycle (15):
Cause of
H3 Illness/Injury

1 5
Cause of illness/injury

Bicycle related

CAUSE OF ILLNESS/INJURY CODES

10 Chemical exposure. Includes accidental poisoning by solid or liquid substances,

gases, and vapors, which are not included under accidental drug poisoning (11).
11 Drug poisoning. Includes accidental poisoning by drugs, medicinal substances, or
biological products.
12 Fall. Excludes falls that occur in the context of other external causes of injury, such
as fires, falling off boats, or falling in accidents involving machinery in operation.
13 Aircraft-related accident. Includes spacecraft.
14 Bite. Includes animal bites, including non-venomous snakes and lizards. Excludes
venomous stings (36).
15 Bicycle accident. Includes any pedal cycle accident. Pedal cycle is defined to
include bicycles and tricycles. Excludes motor vehicle or motorbike accidents.
16 Building collapse/construction accident. Includes all accidents on construction sites.
Not to be used for specific mechanism of injury (e.g., “Fall”).
17 Drowning, not related to watercraft use. Includes swimming accidents, bathtubs, etc.
18 Electrical shock. Includes accidents related to electric current from exposed wires,
faulty appliances, high-voltage cables, live rails, or open electric sockets. Excludes
lightning (26).
19 Cold. Includes cold injuries due to weather exposure or cold produced by man, such
as in a freezer.
20 Heat. Includes thermal injuries related to weather or heat produced by man, such as
in a boiler room or factory. Excludes heat injury from conflagration (22).
21 Explosives. Includes all injuries related to explosives. Excludes fireworks (25).
22 Fire and flames. Includes burning by fire, asphyxia or poisoning from conflagration
or ignition, and fires secondary to explosions.
23 Firearm. Includes accidental and purposeful firearm injuries.
25 Fireworks. Injuries caused by pyrotechnics designed for or used for display
purposes. Includes consumer fireworks.

The denotes a required field. 8–16 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I EMS Module - I

26 Lightning. Excludes falling objects as a result of lightning and injuries from fires that
are a result of lightning.
27 Machinery. Includes machinery accidents except when machinery is not in
operation. Excludes electrocution (18).
28 Mechanical suffocation. Includes suffocation in bed or cradle (crib death), closed
space suffocation, plastic bag asphyxia, and accidental hanging.
29 Motor vehicle accident. Includes any motor vehicle accident occurring on or off a
public roadway or highway.
30 Motor vehicle accident, pedestrian. Motor vehicle accidents in which the patient was
a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle of any type. Includes individuals on skates, in
baby carriages, in wheelchairs, on skateboards, and on skis.
31 Non-traffic vehicle accident. Includes any motor vehicle accident occurring entirely
off public roadways or highways. For instance, an accident involving an all-terrain
vehicle (ATV) in an off-road location would be a non-traffic accident.
32 Physical assault/abuse. Includes all forms of battering and non-accidental injury to
patients.
33 Scalds/other thermal. Includes all burn injuries resulting from hot liquids or steam.
34 Smoke inhalation. Includes smoke and fume inhalation from fire.
35 Stabbing assault. Includes cuts, punctures, or stabs of any part of the body.
36 Venomous sting. Includes bites and stings from venomous snakes, lizards, spiders,
scorpions, insects, marine life, or plants. For animal bite, use 14.
37 Water transport. Includes all accidents related to watercraft. Excludes drowning and
submersion accidents (17) unless they are related to watercraft use. Thus, if a
person falls out of a boat and drowns, it should be coded within this category. If a
person drowns in a swimming pool or bathtub, it should be coded as “Drowning.”
00 Cause of illness/injury, other
UU Unknown. Includes situations when data cannot be accurately reconstructed from
the run record.

SECTION I I

I Procedures Used
Definition
The nature of the procedures attempted or performed on a patient by emergency personnel.
The term procedures include anything done by way of assessment or treatment of the patient.

Purpose
Planners and educators use this information to determine which procedures are conducted in
the field, by whom, and for what indications. This information can also help determine the
equipment and supplies needed by emergency responders.

Entry
Check or mark all applicable boxes. If no treatment was provided, check only the No Treat-
ment box.

Example
A laceration was bandaged to control bleeding (04), and a fractured arm was splinted (23):

The denotes a required field. 8–17 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J EMS Module - J

I Procedures Used Check all applicable boxes

No treatment

01 Airway insertion 14 Intubation (EGTA)

02 Anti-shock trousers 15 Intubation (ET)
03 Assist ventilation 16 IO/IV therapy
04 X Bleeding control 17 Medications therapy
05 Burn care 18 Oxygen therapy
06 Cardiac pacing 19 OB care/delivery
07 Cardioversion (defib) manual 20 Prearrival instructions
08 Chest/abdominal thrust 21 Restrain patient
09 CPR 22 Spinal immobilization
10 Cricothyroidotomy 23 X Splinted extremities
11 Defibrillation by AED 24 Suction/aspirate
12 EKG monitoring 00 Other
13 Extrication

PROCEDURES USED CODES

01 Airway insertion.
02 Anti-shock trousers.
03 Assist ventilation.
04 Bleeding control.
05 Burn care.
06 Cardiac pacing.
07 Cardioversion (defibrillation), manual.
08 Chest/abdominal thrust.
09 CPR.
10 Cricothyroidotomy.
11 Defibrillation by AED.
12 EKG monitoring.
13 Extrication.
14 Intubation (EGTA).
15 Intubation (ET).
16 IO/IV therapy.
17 Medications therapy.
18 Oxygen therapy.
19 Obstetrical care/delivery.
20 Prearrival instructions.
21 Restrained patient.
22 Spinal immobilization.
23 Splinted extremities.
24 Suction/aspirate.
00 Procedures used, other.
NN No treatment.

SECTION J J

J Safety Equipment
Definition
The types of safety equipment in use by the patient at time of injury.

The denotes a required field. 8–18 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K EMS Module - K

Purpose
This element provides important information about safety devices used. The data can be used
with police reports concerning collisions, tracking various trends and patterns, and determin-
ing the focus of public education campaigns.

Entry
Check or mark all applicable boxes to indicate the safety equipment that was in use. If no
safety equipment was used, check or mark the None box

Example
The patient was wearing a helmet when the bicycle accident occurred (4):
Safety
J Equipment
None

Used or deployed by patient.

Check all applicable boxes.

1 Safety/seat belts
2 Child safety seat
3 Airbag
4 X Helmet
5 Protective clothing
6 Flotation device
0 Other
U Undetermined

SAFETY EQUIPMENT CODES

1 Safety, seat belts.

2 Child safety seat.
3 Airbag.
4 Helmet.
5 Protective clothing.
6 Flotation device.
0 Safety equipment, other.
N None.
U Undetermined.

SECTION K K

This section is completed only if the patient went into or was found in cardiac arrest.

K Cardiac Arrest
When Cardiac Arrest Occurred
Definition
When the cardiac arrest occurred in relation to the arrival of fire department’s EMS personnel
and whether CPR was performed before EMS personnel arrived.

The denotes a required field. 8–19 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K EMS Module - K

Purpose
The effectiveness of bystander CPR on morbidity (or patient outcome) on a cardiac arrest
patient can be determined.

Entry
Check or mark all applicable boxes. The intent here is to determine whether it was a pre-
arrival or post-arrival arrest. If it was a pre-arrival arrest, check whether it was witnessed or
whether bystander CPR was performed.

Example
The patient went into cardiac arrest while eating dinner (1) and a bystander witnessed the
incident and initiated CPR (2):
K Cardiac Arrest
Check all applicable boxes

1 X Pre-arrival arrest?
If pre-arrival arrest, was it:

1 X Witnessed?
2 X Bystander CPR?

2 Post-arrival arrest?

Initial Arrest Rhythm

1 V-Fib/V-Tach
0 Other
U Undetermined

CARDIAC ARREST CODES

1 Pre-arrival arrest.
2 Post-arrival arrest.

PRE-ARRIVAL DETAILS CODES

1 Witnessed.
2 Bystander CPR.

Initial Arrest Rhythm

Definition
The patient’s initial heart arrest rhythm as measured by the fire department’s EMS personnel
with an EKG monitor.

Purpose
This element tracks trends and patterns in the types and the survival of cardiac patients.

Entry
Check or mark the appropriate box.

The denotes a required field. 8–20 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 L EMS Module - L

Example
The patient’s arrest rhythm was V-Tach (1):

K Cardiac Arrest
Check all applicable boxes

1 X Pre-arrival arrest?
If pre-arrival arrest, was it:
1 X Witnessed?
2 X Bystander CPR?

2 Post-arrival arrest?

Initial Arrest Rhythm

1 X V-Fib/V-Tach
0 Other
U Undetermined

INITIAL ARREST RHYTHM CODES

1 V-Fib/V-Tach.
0 Initial arrest rhythm, other.
U Undetermined.

SECTION L L

This section collects information on the level of training of the fire department responder who
treated the patient and the level of can the responder provided.

L1 Initial Level of Provider

Definition
The certified training level of the first fire department responder(s) to treat the patient.

Purpose
This element aids researchers in identifying trends of pre-hospital care delivered by the fire
service. This information may also aid researchers in evaluating the effect of pre-hospital
CPR and cardiac care on morbidity (or patient outcomes).

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the level of care the first responder was trained to
provide as certified by the fire department or state.

Example
The first fire department responder to arrive on the scene and treat the patient was a first
responder (1):

The denotes a required field. 8–21 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 L EMS Module - L

Initial Level of
L1 Provider
1 X First Responder
2 EMT-B (Basic)
3 EMT-I (Intermediate)
4 EMT-P (Paramedic)
0 Other provider
N No training

INITIAL LEVEL OF PROVIDER CODES

1 First responder.
2 EMT-B (Basic).
3 EMT-I (Intermediate).
4 EMT-P (Paramedic).
0 Other health care provider. Includes doctor, nurses, etc.
N No training.

L2 Highest Level of Care Provided on Scene

Definition
The highest level of fire department care that the patient received at the scene of the EMS
incident.

Purpose
This element determine the personnel and equipment requirements for handling EMS inci-
dents. This information may also aid researchers in evaluating the effect of pre-hospital care
on morbidity (or patient outcome).

Entry
Check or mark the box that indicates the highest level of care provided at the scene by the fire
department. If no care was provided, check or mark the None box.

Example
The fire department provided intermediate-level treatment at the scene (3):
Highest Level of Care
L2 Provided On Scene
None

1 First Responder
2 EMT-B (Basic)
3 X EMT-I (Intermediate)
4 EMT-P (Paramedic)
0 Other provider

HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE PROVIDED ON SCENE CODES

1 First responder.
2 EMT-B (Basic).
3 EMT-I (Intermediate).
4 EMT-P (Paramedic).
0 Other health care provider. Includes doctors, nurses, etc.
N No care provided.

The denotes a required field. 8–22 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M EMS Module - M

SECTION M M

M Patient Status
Definition
The overall change in the status of the patient as recorded at the time responsibility for the
patient is transferred to another agency.

Purpose
This element is used to track trends and patterns in relation to the status of the patient at the
time of transfer. This entry can also be correlated with other data collected in the EMS module
to evaluate pre-hospital care and its influence on patient outcomes.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the patient’s status when he/she was transferred to
another agency for care as compared to the patient’s status when the fire department began
treatment.

. Remember to check or mark the box indicating whether or not the patient had a Pulse on
Transfer.

Example
The patient’s status worsened as the incident progressed (3): by the time he was transferred to
hospital care, he had no pulse (2)
M Patient Status

1 Improved
2 Remained same
3 X Worsened
Check if:
1 Pulse on transfer
2 X No pulse on transfer

PATIENT STATUS CODES

1 Improved.
2 Remained same.
3 Worsened.

PULSE ON TRANSFER CODES

1 Pulse on transfer.
2 No pulse on transfer.

The denotes a required field. 8–23 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 N EMS Module - N

SECTION N N

N EMS Disposition
Definition
A description of whether or not the patient was transported from the scene and, if transported,
who provided the transport.

Purpose
This element is used to correlate the initial call for service with the final actions in the field by
providers. For instance, it may be valuable to know how often EMS is activated for patients
who require no treatment or transport. Reports generated from this data element may be of use
in coordinating the dispatch and responder functions.

Entry
Check or mark the box that describes the disposition of the patient. Check or mark the Not
Transported box if the patient was not removed from the scene.

Example
The patient was transported to the hospital by the fire department (1):
EMS
N Disposition
Not transported

1 X FD transport to ECF
2 Non-FD transport
3 Non-FD trans/ FD attend
4 Non-emergency transfer
0 Other

EMS DISPOSITION CODES

1 Fire department transport to emergency care facility (ECF). Includes situations

where the EMS responder transports a patient to a rendezvous point for transfer to
another EMS responder.
2 Non-fire department transport. Fire department EMS responder provided treatment
at the scene, but the patient was transferred to the care of another service (at the
scene).
3 Non-fire department transport with fire department attendant. Fire department EMS
responder provided treatment or came upon the scene of a private provider giving
treatment and assisted, then rode with the non-fire department transport to the ECF.
4 Non-emergency transfer. Includes inter facility transfers under non-emergency
conditions.
0 EMS disposition, other.
N Not transported by EMS.

The denotes a required field. 8–24 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 HazMat Module

Basic Module
(NFIRS–1)

Fire Module
(NFIRS–2)

Chapter 9
Structure Fire Module
HAZMAT MODULE (NFIRS–3)

(NFIRS–7)
Civilian Fire
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–4)

Fire Service
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–5)

EMS Module
State NFIRS (NFIRS–6)
Reporting Authority

HazMat Module
(NFIRS–7)

U.S. Fire Administration

NATIONAL FIRE DATA CENTER
Wildland Fire
Module (NFIRS–8)

Apparatus/
Personnel Modules
(NFIRS–9/–10)

Arson Module
(NFIRS–11)
The denotes a required field. 9–1 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 HazMat Module

MM DD YYYY NFIRS–7
A Delete
HazMat
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure Haz No. Change

B HazMat ID Chemical
UN Number DOT Hazard CAS Registration Number Name
Classification

C1 Container
Type
None C2 Estimated Container Capacity D1 Estimated Amount Released E1 Physical State
When Released
, , , , 1 Solid
Capacity: by volume or weight Amount released: by volume or weight
2 Liquid
Container Type
Units: Released Check one box 3 Gas
C3 Units: Capacity Check one box
D2 U Undetermined
VOLUME WEIGHT VOLUME WEIGHT
More hazardous 11 Ounces 21 Ounces 11 Ounces 21 Ounces Released Into
materials? Use 12 Gallons 22 Pounds 12 Gallons 22 Pounds E2
additional sheets. 13 Barrels: 42 gal. 23 Grams 13 Barrels: 42 gal. 23 Grams
14 Liters 24 Kilograms 14 Liters 24 Kilograms
15 Cubic feet MICRO UNITS 15 Cubic feet MICRO UNITS Released into
16 Cubic meters Enter Code 16 Cubic meters Enter Code

Population Density Area Evacuated None HazMat Actions Taken

Complete the remainder F2 G2 H Enter up to three actions taken
of this form only for the
first hazardous material 1 Urban 1 Square feet
involved in this incident. 2 Suburban
,
2 Blocks
Enter Primary action taken (1)
3 Rural 3 Square miles measurement

F1 Released From
Area Affected G3 Estimated Number of Additional action taken (2)
Check all applicable boxes G1 People Evacuated
Below grade Additional action taken (3)
1 Square feet
,
2 Blocks
If fire or explosion is involved with a
1 Inside/on structure
3 Square miles
G4 Estimated Number of I release, which occurred first?
Story of release
Buildings Evacuated
, 1 Ignition U Undetermined
None
2 Outside of structure
Enter measurement , 2 Release

Cause of Release Factors Contributing to Release Factors Affecting Mitigation None

J K L Enter up to three factors or impediments that affected the
Enter up to three contributing factors mitigation of the incident
1 Intentional
2 Unintentional release
Factor contributing to release (1) Factor or impediment (1)
3 Container/containment failure
4 Act of nature
5 Cause under investigation Factor contributing to release (2) Factor or impediment (2)
U Cause undetermined after
investigation
Factor contributing to release (3) Factor or impediment (3)

Mobile Property Involved in

Equipment Involved HazMat Disposition
M in Release
None
N Release
None
O
1 Completed by fire service only
2 Completed w/fire service present
Equipment involved in release
Mobile property type 3 Released to local agency
4 Released to county agency
Brand 5 Released to state agency
Mobile property make
6 Released to federal agency
Model 7 Released to private agency
Model Year 8 Released to property owner or
Serial # manager
License plate number State HazMat Civilian Casualties
Year P
Deaths Injuries
DOT number/ ICC number NFIRS–7
Revision 01/01/06

The denotes a required field. 9–2 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 HazMat Module

CHAPTER 9

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MODULE (NFIRS–7)

he Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Module is an optional module. It should be used when that
T option has been chosen by your state or local authorities.

The HazMat Module is used when the Other box in Block H3 (“Hazardous Materials Release”) of
the Basic Module (NFIRS–1) has been checked. Its purpose is to document reportable HazMat
incidents. Generally speaking, a reportable HazMat incident is when either:

1. Specialized HazMat resources were dispatched or used, or should have been dispatched
or used, for assessing, mitigating, or managing the situation.

OR

2. Releases or spills of hazardous materials that exceed 55 gallons occur.

Nothing in this definition is meant to alter compliance with state or local HazMat reporting
requirements. In states with mandatory reporting, the state reporting authority determines which
optional modules (EMS, HazMat, Wildland, etc.) are to be submitted to the state.

The HazMat Module permits hazardous materials incidents to be thoroughly profiled for incident
management analysis and response strategy development. It collects relevant information on:

• Hazardous materials identification

• Container information
• Release amounts and location
• Actions taken
• Mitigating factors.

In addition, aggregated data on hazardous materials incidents will provide invaluable information
that can be used by policy makers who develop regulations for the storage, use, and transportation
of hazardous materials. It can also be used to develop recommended guidance for emergency per-
sonnel response to HazMat incidents.

. If more than one HazMat was involved, one form is completed for each HazMat released.
(The term release is intended to include spill.)

The denotes a required field. 9–3 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A HazMat Module - A

SECTION A A

The guidance and directions for completing Section A of the HazMat Module are essentially the
same as for Section A in the Basic Module. One additional field is included in Section A of the
HazMat Module (Haz No.). It is stressed that the entries in Section A of the HazMat Module must
be identical with the entries on the corresponding Basic Module. An example of a completed Sec-
tion A can be found on page 3–8.

A Fire Department Identification (FDID)

Entry
Enter the same FDID number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

State
Entry
Enter the same state abbreviation found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Incident Date
Entry
Enter the same incident date found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Station Number
Entry
Enter the same station number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Incident Number
Entry
Enter the same incident number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Exposure Number
Entry
If the HazMat release was in connection with a fire incident and the release was in an expo-
sure property, enter the same exposure number that was entered in Section A of the Basic
Module for that exposure.

HazMat Number (Haz No.)

Definition
A unique HazMat number is assigned to each hazardous material involved in the incident.

The denotes a required field. 9–4 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A HazMat Module - A

Purpose
Distinguishes among multiple hazardous materials involved in the incident. Data and infor-
mation concerning the HazMat can be accessed using this number in conjunction with other
unique field information.

Entry
Enter the HazMat number for the particular HazMat reported on this module. A separate Haz
No. is assigned to each HazMat involved. The first material is always coded “01,” and each
succeeding material is numbered sequentially and incremented by 1 beginning with “02.” The
two-character numeric field is zero filled, not right justified.

Example
An incident involving a release from two drums, where the first drum is filled with a flamma-
ble liquid and the second drum contains a weak acid. Since two hazardous materials are
involved, two separate HazMat Modules are completed. The Haz No. for the first drum would
be “01” and the second would be “02”:
MM DD YYYY
A 01
Delete

FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure Haz No. Change

Delete/Change
Definition
Indicates a change to information submitted on a previous HazMat Module or a deletion of all
information regarding that specific HazMat release.

Purpose
To delete or change previously reported information.

Entry
Delete. Check or mark this box when you have previously submitted data on this HazMat
release and now want to have the data on this release deleted from the database. If this box is
marked, complete Section A, including the HazMat number assigned to this HazMat, and
leave the rest of the report blank. Forward the report according to your normally established
procedures.

Change. Check or mark this box only if you previously submitted this HazMat release to your
state reporting authority and now want to update or change the information in the state data-
base. Complete Section A and any other sections or blocks that need to be updated or cor-
rected. If you need to blank a field that contains data, you must resubmit the original module
containing the newly blanked field along with all the other original information in the module
for that incident. This action is required only when sending an updated module to your state
reporting authority. Forward the report according to your normally established procedures.

The denotes a required field. 9–5 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B HazMat Module - B

SECTION B B

B HazMat ID
The purpose of Section B is to identify the hazardous materials involved in an incident as specifi-
cally as possible. Several identification systems exist that can aid fire department personnel in
identifying hazardous materials:

• UN Number
• DOT Hazard Classification
• CAS Registration Number
• Chemical Name

Identification of specific hazardous materials involved in fire or rescue incidents is a priority for
emergency response personnel.

UN Number
Definition
A four-digit number assigned to the hazardous material that conforms to United Nations (UN)
standards for the identification of hazardous materials in international transportation. In some
cases, a single UN number will be assigned to several materials with similar properties. Not
all hazardous materials have been assigned a UN number.

Purpose
Aggregate information on the identities of hazardous materials being released can reveal
trends or patterns for particular materials or classes of materials. These trends may provide
direction for policy makers, prevention efforts, and training curricula.

Entry
Enter the four-digit UN number assigned to the hazardous material. Leave the entry blank if a
UN number has not been assigned.

These numbers may be found in a variety of reference materials, including USFA’s Hazardous
Materials Guide for First Responders and the North American Emergency Response Guide-
book (NAERG), published by the Research and Special Programs Administration, U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT). A list of commonly encountered materials is included
in Appendix D.

Example
Enter the UN Number “1203” for a hazardous materials release involving gasoline:

HazMat ID 1 2 0 3
B UN Number DOT Hazard CAS Registration Number
Chemical
Name
Classification

The denotes a required field. 9–6 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B HazMat Module - B

DOT Hazard Classification

Definition
The Department of Transportation hazard classification describes the primary hazard associ-
ated with various categories of hazardous materials. The DOT hazard classification is
intended for use on placards or labels during the transportation of hazardous materials. Since
many materials have multiple hazards, these placards or labels may not describe all of the
potential hazards faced by emergency responders at a HazMat incident.

Purpose
Aggregate information on the identities of hazardous materials being released can reveal
trends or patterns for particular materials or classes of materials. These trends may provide
direction for policy makers, prevention efforts, and training curricula.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code that corresponds with the hazard classification and division code as
found on a placard or label, in the NAERG, or from the list below.

. The DOT Hazard Classification consists of a single-digit hazard class code, followed by a
decimal point and a single-digit code for the division. For NFIRS data collection, this
two-part hazard class/division code has been converted into a two-digit code.

Example
The HazMat release was a flammable liquid (30):

HazMat ID 1 2 0 3 3 0
B UN Number DOT Hazard CAS Registration Number
Chemical
Name
Classification

DOT HAZARD CLASSIFICATION CODES

Class 1 – Explosives
11 Division 1.1 – Explosives with mass explosion hazard.
12 Division 1.2 – Explosives with projectile hazard.
13 Division 1.3 – Explosives with predominant fire hazard.
14 Division 1.4 – Explosives with no significant blast hazard.
15 Division 1.5 – Very insensitive explosives; blasting agents.
16 Division 1.6 – Extremely insensitive detonating articles.

Class 2 – Gases
21 Division 2.1 – Flammable gases.
22 Division 2.2 – Non-flammable, non-toxic compressed gases.
23 Division 2.3 – Gases toxic by inhalation.
24 Division 2.4 – Corrosive gases (Canada).

Class 3 – Flammable Liquids (and Combustible Liquids (U.S.))

30 Flammable and combustible liquids.

The denotes a required field. 9–7 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B HazMat Module - B

Class 4 – Flammable Solids, Spontaneously Combustible Materials, and

Dangerous-When-Wet Materials
41 Division 4.1 – Flammable solids.
42 Division 4.2 – Spontaneously combustible materials.
43 Division 4.3 – Dangerous-when-wet materials.

Class 5 – Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides

51 Division 5.1 – Oxidizers.
52 Division 5.2 – Organic peroxides.

Class 6 – Toxic Materials and Infectious Substances

61 Division 6.1 – Toxic materials.
62 Division 6.2 – Infectious substances.

Class 7 – Radioactive Materials

70 Radioactive materials.

Class 8 – Corrosive Materials

80 Corrosive materials.

Class 9 – Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

91 Division 9.1 – Miscellaneous dangerous goods (Canada).
92 Division 9.2 – Environmentally hazardous substances (Canada).
93 Division 9.3 – Dangerous wastes (Canada).
UU Undetermined.

CAS Registration Number

Definition
The identification number assigned to a chemical by the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) of
the Chemical Abstract Society. Not all hazardous materials have an assigned CAS number.

Purpose
Aggregate information on the identities of hazardous materials being released can reveal
trends or patterns for particular materials or classes of materials. These trends may provide
direction for policy makers, prevention efforts, and training curricula.

Entry
Enter the number assigned by the CAS to the chemical. This number may be found in refer-
ence materials, on Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), and on some product labels. A list
of CAS numbers for commonly encountered chemicals is included in Appendix D. Leave the
entry blank if a CAS registration number has not been assigned.

. Enter the number as it appears, including dashes.

Example
For gasoline, enter the CAS number “8006–61–9”:

HazMat ID 1 2 0 3 3 0 8 0 0 6 - 6 1 - 9
B UN Number DOT Hazard CAS Registration Number
Chemical
Name
Classification

The denotes a required field. 9–8 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C HazMat Module - C

Chemical Name
Definition
A standard chemical or trade name by which the hazardous material is commonly known.
Products from different manufacturers with similar active chemical ingredients may have dif-
ferent trade names.

Purpose
Aggregate information on the identities of hazardous materials being released can reveal
trends or patterns for particular materials or classes of materials. These trends may provide
direction for policy makers, prevention efforts, and training curricula.

Entry
Enter the chemical or trade name of the hazardous material as shown on the MSDS, product
label, packaging, or container.

Example
A common herbicide used for household applications may be entered by the trade name
“Weed-B-Gone™,” or by the chemical name “2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid”:

HazMat ID
B UN Number DOT Hazard CAS Registration Number
Chemical
Name Weed-B-Gone™
Classification

. Those chemicals listed in the Hazardous Materials Guide for First Responders, published
by the U.S. Fire Administration, are also cross-referenced in Appendix D.

SECTION C C

This section collects information on the type and capacity of the container involved in the HazMat
release.

C1 Container Type
Definition
The type or configuration of the container, equipment, or facility used to transport or store the
hazardous material.

Purpose
Aggregate information on the types of containers involved in HazMat incidents may provide
(1) guidance to regulators that establish container design requirements and (2) direction to
prevention and code development efforts, emergency response training, and policy making.

The denotes a required field. 9–9 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C HazMat Module - C

Entry
Enter the two-digit code for the container type. If no container was involved, check or mark
the None box and skip to Block D1.

Example
The release was from a drum (11):

C1 Container None
Type

1 1
Container Type

More hazardous
materials? Use
additional sheets.

CONTAINER TYPE CODES

Portable Container. A container designed to be transported to a location and

left there until emptied, when it may be disposed of or returned to a vendor for
refill and reuse.
11 Drum. Cylindrical container used to hold non-bulk quantities of product typically in
the 55-gallon range. Drums can be of closed- or open-head design and can be
constructed of a range of materials, including metal, plastic, or fiberboard. Drums
can be used for liquid or solid materials, including flammable liquids or solvents,
corrosives, poisons, and other hazardous materials.
12 Cylinder. Container used for storing pressurized, liquefied, and dissolved gases.
The three types of cylinders include aerosol containers, uninsulated containers, and
cryogenic/insulated containers. Cylinders are usually constructed of metal, but some
aerosol containers may be plastic or glass. Cylinders have a wide range of service
pressures from a few psi to several thousand psi. Some examples of materials
stored in cylinders include acetylene, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and
propane. Large cylinders known as “ton containers” are used to store chlorine.
13 Can or bottle. Container used to store quantities of liquids or solids often intended
for household or laboratory use. Cans and bottles can be constructed of metal,
glass, plastic, or ceramic. Flammable liquids, solvents, corrosives, and other
hazardous materials can be stored in these containers.
14 Carboy. A glass or plastic container used to store moderate amounts (up to over 20
gallons) of liquids in industrial or laboratory settings. Carboys are usually shipped in
an outer packaging of polystyrene or wood.
15 Box or carton. Rigid packages that completely enclose their contents; they can be
constructed of metal, plastic, fiberboard, or wood. Boxes or cartons can be used to
store liquids or solids and can contain a wide range of hazardous materials. They
can also be used as exterior packaging around bottles or cans and can contain
radioactive or infectious materials packaged for use in medical facilities or
laboratories.
16 Bag or sack. Most commonly used for the storage of solid materials, but can also be
used for liquids. Bags and sacks can be constructed of cloth, paper, plastic, or a
combination of materials in sizes ranging from a few to 100 pounds of material.
Flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), known as “supersacks,” can contain
from 119 to 793 gallons of product.
17 Cask. Specially designed, tested, and certified containers designed to transport
highly radioactive materials. They are constructed to withstand high impacts and
have a very low potential of container failure.

The denotes a required field. 9–10 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C HazMat Module - C

18 Hose. A portable, flexible tube used to transfer liquid product from one location to
another.
10 Portable container, other. A container that meets the definition of a portable
container but is not specified below.

Fixed Container. A container designed and built in a fixed location that is not
intended to be moved or transported from that location.
21 Tank or silo. These containers can hold a wide range of liquid or solid materials in
quantities ranging from several pounds or gallons to bulk storage tanks that can hold
thousands of gallons of product. They are usually constructed of metal and may or
may not be pressurized.
22 Pipe or pipeline. Pipes are used to transport liquids or gases from one location to
another. They can be constructed of metal, PVC, or plastic. Pipes can begin and
end within a fixed facility, or they may travel some distance as part of a pipeline.
23 Bin. Used to store any quantity of solid or granular materials at a fixed facility. Bins
can be open or closed and are often used for materials that are insensitive to
moisture or minimally reactive.
24 Machinery or process equipment. Equipment used for the manufacture of chemical
compounds at a fixed facility. Process equipment may include a variety of containers
that are combined to facilitate the reaction of chemicals into different compounds.
28 Hose. A fixed, flexible hose that can be permanently attached to a storage vessel or
can be used to transport materials from one location to another within a facility.
20 Fixed container, other. A container that meets the definition of a fixed container but
is not specified below.

Natural Containment. Any feature that is part of the permanent topography of

the area. Natural containment areas can be manmade (for example, a manmade
lake or pond).
31 Sump or pit. A depression created in the ground that forms a containment area for
the storage of liquid or solid materials. Includes sewage treatment or sludge pits.
32 Pond or surface impoundment. A natural containment feature used to hold liquid or
solid materials, such as a manure pond at a farm or water storage areas at a
wastewater treatment facility.
33 Well. A well is a deep hole in the ground that was originally intended to provide
access to groundwater. Dry wells can be used for the storage of hazardous
materials.
34 Dump site or landfill. A location where various articles of trash and rubbish are
routinely deposited (legally or otherwise). Dump sites and landfills may contain a
wide variety of hazardous substances.
30 Natural containment, other. A containment that meets the definition of a natural
container but is not specified below.

Mobile Container. A container designed to be transported from one location to

another, intended to store quantities of product that can be offloaded at inter-
mediate locations, or provided for the use of the transporting vehicle itself.
41 Vehicle fuel tank and associated piping. Vehicle fuel tanks are mobile tanks that can
hold from a few gallons to several thousand gallons of product. Vehicle fuel tanks
provide fuel solely for the operation of the vehicle.
42 Product tank on or towed by vehicle. These mobile containers may be on the vehicle
or towed behind it. They are usually intended to transport product from one location
to another for offloading or storage. This includes semi-trailers, trailers, or vehicles
specifically designed for the transport of a commodity such as home heating oil or
propane.
43 Piping associated with mobile product tank loading or offloading. The piping and
associated loading/offloading hardware attached to the mobile container.
48 Hose. A flexible hose used for loading or offloading mobile containers after it is
attached to a discharge pipe or outlet.
40 Mobile container, other. Any container that fits the definition of a mobile container
but is not classified below.

The denotes a required field. 9–11 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C HazMat Module - C

Other Containers
91 Rigid intermediate bulk containers. RIBCs can contain from 119 to 793 gallons of
liquid or solid product. They are used for the transport and storage of a wide variety
of materials and may be constructed of steel or aluminum, but are often formed from
rigid polyethylene. RIBCs are transported to a fixed facility where they are used until
they are emptied of product, after which they are returned to a vendor for refill and
reuse.
00 Container type, other.
NN None.
UU Undetermined.

C2 Estimated Container Capacity

Definition
The amount of material the container was designed to hold. The container capacity is reported
as two data elements. One is a numeric entry and expresses quantity (Block C2); the other
defines the unit of measure (Block C3).

. Both the quantity (Block C2) and the unit of measure (Block C3) must be reported for the
data to be meaningful.

Purpose
Aggregate information on the size of containers involved in HazMat incidents may provide
(1) guidance to regulators that establish container design requirements and (2) direction to
prevention and code development efforts, emergency response training, and policy making.

Entry
Enter the estimated amount of material that the container was designed to hold, by volume or
weight, to the nearest whole unit of measure.

Example
Enter “55” for a 55-gallon drum:

C2 Estimated Container Capacity

, 5 5
,
Capacity: by volume or weight

C3 Units: Capacity
Definition
The unit of measure that defines, by volume or weight, the capacity of the hazardous
materials container.

. Both the quantity (Block C2) and the unit of measure (Block C3) must be reported for the
data to be meaningful.

Entry
Check or mark the appropriate unit of measure.

The denotes a required field. 9–12 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D HazMat Module - D

Example
The unit of measure for the drum is gallons (12):

C3 Units: Capacity Check one box

VOLUME WEIGHT
11 Ounces 21 Ounces
12 X Gallons 22 Pounds
13 Barrels: 42 gal. 23 Grams
14 Liters 24 Kilograms
15 Cubic feet MICRO UNITS
16 Cubic meters Enter Code

UNITS: CAPACITY CODES

Volume Units
11 Ounces (liquid).
12 Gallons.
13 Barrels (42 gal).
14 Liters.
15 Cubic feet.
16 Cubic meters.

Weight Units
21 Ounces (weight).
22 Pounds.
23 Grams.
24 Kilograms.

Micro Units
31 Parts per billion.
32 Parts per million.
33 Micro Roentgen.
34 Milli Roentgen.
35 Roentgen.
36 RAD.
37 REM.
38 Curie.

\ SECTION D D

D1 Estimated Amount Released

Definition
The amount of hazardous material released from a container expressed as a standard unit of
measure. The quantity released is reported as two data elements. One is a numeric entry and
expresses quantity (Block D1); the other defines the unit of measure (Block D2).

. Both the quantity (Block D1) and the unit of measure (Block D2) must be reported for the
data to be meaningful.

The denotes a required field. 9–13 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D HazMat Module - D

Purpose
Aggregate information on the amount of HazMat released provides an important measure of
the magnitude of the release problem.

Entry
Enter the estimated amount of material released from the container, by volume or weight, to
the nearest whole unit of measure.

Example
The HazMat release was estimated at 100 gallons of material:

D1 Estimated Amount Released

, , 1 0 0
Amount released: by volume or weight

D2 Units: Released
Definition
The unit of measure, by volume or weight, for the amount of the hazardous material released
from the container.

. Both the quantity (Block D1) and the unit of measure (Block D2) must be reported for the
data to be meaningful.

Entry
Check or mark the appropriate unit of measure.

Example
The unit of measure for the release is gallons (12)
Units: Released Check one box
D2
VOLUME WEIGHT
11 Ounces 21 Ounces
12 X Gallons 22 Pounds
13 Barrels: 42 gal. 23 Grams
14 Liters 24 Kilograms
15 Cubic feet MICRO UNITS
16 Cubic meters Enter Code

UNITS: RELEASED CODES

Volume Units
11 Ounces (liquid).
12 Gallons.
13 Barrels (42 gal).
14 Liters.
15 Cubic feet.
16 Cubic meters.

The denotes a required field. 9–14 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E HazMat Module - E

Weight Units
21 Ounces (weight).
22 Pounds.
23 Grams.
24 Kilograms.

Micro Units
31 Parts per billion.
32 Parts per million.
33 Micro Roentgen.
34 Milli Roentgen.
35 Roentgen.
36 RAD.
37 REM.
38 Curie.

SECTION E E

This section deals with the physical state of the HazMat and the environment in which it was
released.

E1 Physical State When Released

Definition
The simple physical state of the material during release.

Purpose
Aggregate information on the physical state of hazardous materials being released can reveal
trends or patterns for particular materials, classes of materials, and physical states. These
trends may provide direction for policy makers, prevention efforts, and training curricula.

Entry
Check or mark the box best describing the physical state of the material when released.

Example
The release of hazardous material was in a liquid state (2).
E1 Physical State
When Released
1 Solid
2 X Liquid
3 Gas
U Undetermined

The denotes a required field. 9–15 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F HazMat Module - F

PHYSICAL STATE WHEN RELEASED CODES

1 Solid.
2 Liquid.
3 Gas.
U Undetermined.

E2 Released Into
Definition
The general environment contaminated by the hazardous material after release.

Purpose
Aggregate information on environmental contamination can provide insight on the extent and
environmental impact of hazardous materials releases. This may provide important informa-
tion to resource planners and policy makers who develop zoning ordinances and regulations
for the use or transportation of hazardous materials.

Entry
Enter the code that best describes the environment contaminated by the hazardous material.

Example
A hazardous materials release spread down a street and into a river (4):
Released Into
E2
4
Released into

RELEASED INTO CODES

1 Air.
2 Water.
3 Ground
4 Water and ground.
5 Air and ground.
6 Water and air.
7 Air, water, and ground.
8 Confined, no environmental impact; not released into air, water, or ground.

SECTION F F

Information on the location of the release and the population density in the area of the release is
captured in this section.

The denotes a required field. 9–16 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F HazMat Module - F

Released From
F1 Definition
The physical location from which the hazardous material was released.

Purpose
Aggregate information on the physical location of hazardous material releases may reveal
trends or patterns for particular materials, classes of materials, and physical states. These
trends may provide direction for code enforcement or prevention efforts, policy makers, and
training curricula.

Entry
If the location of the release was below grade, check or mark the Below Grade box. If the
release was inside or on a structure, check or mark the Inside/On Structure box and enter the
Story of Release directly below. If the release was outside a structure, check or mark the Out-
side of Structure box.

. For purposes of HazMat data collection, Below Grade also refers to underground
releases.

. Checking or marking the Below Grade box has the effect of entering a negative number
in NFIRS 5.0.

Example
The HazMat release came from an above-ground pipeline (2):

F1 Released From
Check all applicable boxes

Below grade

1 Inside/on structure
Story of release

2 X Outside of structure

RELEASED FROM CODES

1 Inside or on structure.
2 Outside of structure.

F2 Population Density
Definition
An estimate of the population density in the area of the hazardous materials release.

Purpose
Aggregate information on the population density of areas where hazardous materials are
released can help define prevention, enforcement, training, and emergency response needs for
different areas.

The denotes a required field. 9–17 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G HazMat Module - G

Entry
Check or mark the box best describing the area where the hazardous material was released.

Example
The HazMat release occurred in a busy city center (1):

F2 Population Density

1 X Urban
2 Suburban
3 Rural

POPULATION DENSITY CODES

1 Urban center. Densely populated with extensive development.

2 Suburban. Predominantly single-family residential, within a short distance of an
urban area. Suburban communities are less densely populated than urban areas
but may contain areas of significant development.
3 Rural. Scattered small communities and isolated family dwellings. Rural areas may
be sparsely populated with widely scattered homes or housing developments.

SECTION G G

This section collects information on the size of the area affected by a HazMat release and whether
an evacuation occurred.

G1 Area Affected
Definition
The amount of area or space directly affected by the hazardous material release. This does not
include the area evacuated, on the area contaminated. Evacuation information is recorded in
Blocks G1 and G2.

. Both the Area Affected (Block G1) and the Area Evacuated (Block G2) must be reported
for the data to be meaningful.

Purpose
Information on the area affected guides future planning and incident management efforts.

Entry
Check or mark the appropriate unit-of-measurement box and enter the numeric value for the
measurement of the area affected.

The denotes a required field. 9–18 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G HazMat Module - G

Example
A HazMat release affected a 2,000-square-foot area (1):
Area Affected
G1
1 X Square feet
2 Blocks
3 Square miles

2 , 0 0 0
Enter measurement

AREA AFFECTED CODES

1 Square feet.
2 Blocks.
3 Square miles.

G2 Area Evacuated
Definition
The amount of area or space evacuated as a result of the hazardous materials release or
potential release. This includes the contaminated area (Block G1).

. Both the Area Affected (Block G1) and the Area Evacuated (Block G2) must be reported
for the data to be meaningful.

Purpose
Information on the area evacuated can guide future training and incident management efforts.
It is also an indirect measure of the amount of emergency resources needed to deal with the
release.

Entry
Check or mark the appropriate unit-of-measurement box and enter the numeric value for the
measurement (rounded to the nearest whole number) of the area evacuated. If there was no
evacuation, check or mark the None box.

Example
A daytime chlorine release necessitated the evacuation of 2 square miles (3).

G2 Area Evacuated None

1 Square feet
, 2
2 Blocks Enter
3 X Square miles measurement

AREA EVACUATED CODES

1 Square feet.
2 Blocks.
3 Square miles.

The denotes a required field. 9–19 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G HazMat Module - G

G3 Estimated Number of
People Evacuated

, 8 0 0

G3 Estimated Number of People Evacuated

Definition
The estimated number of people evacuated due to the hazardous materials release or potential
release.

Purpose
Information on the number of people evacuated can provide important information to
resource planners and policy makers developing zoning ordinances or regulations for the use
and transportation of hazardous materials. This information may also help direct future train-
ing and incident management efforts for emergency response personnel. It is also an indirect
measure of the amount of emergency resources needed to deal with the release.

Entry
Enter the estimated number of people evacuated.

Example
An estimated 800 people were evacuated from a high school that was the site of a hazardous
material release in a chemistry laboratory:

G4 Estimated Number of Buildings Evacuated

Definition
The estimated number of buildings evacuated due to the hazardous materials release or poten-
tial release.

Purpose
Information on the number of buildings evacuated can provide important information to
resource planners and policy makers developing zoning ordinances or regulations for the use
and transportation of hazardous materials. This information may also help direct future train-
ing and incident management efforts for emergency response personnel. It is also an indirect
measure of the amount of emergency resources needed to deal with the release.

Entry
Enter the estimated number of buildings evacuated. Include buildings that were already empty
in the evacuated area (e.g., houses during the day with no one home). If no buildings were
evacuated, check or mark the None box.

The denotes a required field. 9–20 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H HazMat Module - H

Example
A two-story commercial structure with a hazardous materials release from a dry cleaning
establishment on the first floor was evacuated:

G4 Estimated Number of
Buildings Evacuated
1 None
,

SECTION H H

H HazMat Actions Taken

Definition
Specialized HazMat response actions taken at the scene of an incident by personnel specifi-
cally trained and equipped to mitigate hazards arising from hazardous materials releases.
Other actions taken by fire service personnel should be entered in the Basic Module.

Purpose
Information on the actions taken by specialized hazardous materials response personnel can
guide future training and incident management efforts.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description for up to three significant HazMat actions taken.

. Significant non-HazMat actions taken should be entered in the Actions Taken section (F)
of the Basic Module.

. If more than three significant HazMat actions were taken, the additional actions can be
documented on the Basic Module.

Example
Flammable liquid from a semi-trailer was released. HazMat personnel controlled the spill
(13), isolated the area (22), and released a statement to the media (33):
HazMat Actions Taken
H Enter up to three actions taken

1 3 Spill control & confinement

Primary action taken (1)

2 2 Isolate, deny entry, zones

Additional action taken (2)

3 3 Information to public & media

Additional action taken (3)

The denotes a required field. 9–21 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 H HazMat Module - H

HAZMAT ACTIONS TAKEN CODES

Hazardous Condition
11 Identify, analyze hazardous materials.
12 HazMat detection, monitoring, sampling, and analysis. Actions taken to detect,
monitor, and sample hazardous materials using a variety of detection instruments
including combustible gas indicators (CGIs) or explosimeter, oxygen monitors,
colorimetric tubes, specific chemical monitors, and others. Results from these
devices must be analyzed to provide information about the hazardous nature of the
material or environment.
13 HazMat spill control and confinement. These are actions taken to confine the
product release to a limited area including the use of absorbents, damming/diking,
diversion of liquid runoff, dispersion, retention, or vapor suppression.
14 HazMat leak control and containment. These are actions taken to keep a material
within its container including plugging/patching operations, neutralization, pressure
isolation/reduction, solidification, and vacuuming.
15 Remove hazard or hazardous materials. A broad range of actions taken to remove
hazardous materials from a damaged container or contaminated area. Examples of
actions to remove hazards include product offload/transfer, controlled burning or
product flaring, venting, and overpacking.
16 Decontaminate persons or equipment. Actions taken to prevent the spread of
contaminants from the “hot zone” to the “cold zone.” This includes gross, technical,
or advanced personal decontamination of victims, emergency responders, and
equipment.

Isolation and Evacuation. Actions taken to isolate the contaminated area or

evacuate those persons affected by a hazardous materials release or potential
release.
21 Determine the materials released to be non-hazardous through product
identification and environmental monitoring.
22 Isolate area and establish hazard control zones. Actions taken to isolate the affected
area, deny entry to unprotected persons, and establish hazard control zones (hot,
warm, cold).
23 Provide apparatus. Actions taken to provide apparatus to conduct evacuation and
isolation efforts.
24 Provide equipment. Actions taken to provide equipment for evacuation and isolation
efforts. Includes equipment provided to care for evacuees.
25 Provide water. Actions taken to provide water supply for exposure protection or fire
control efforts.
26 Control crowd. Actions taken by fire department personnel to control crowds and
onlookers.
27 Control traffic. Actions taken by fire department personnel to control traffic along
evacuation routes.
28 Protect in-place operations. Actions taken to protect civilians in their homes,
schools, or places of work, without evacuating them from a potentially hazardous
area.

Information, Investigation, and Enforcement. Actions taken to disseminate

information about a hazardous materials incident for the purposes of notifying
the public; requesting mutual aid from local, state, or federal agencies; and con-
ducting investigation or enforcement operations.
31 Refer to proper authority. Actions taken to “hand off” the incident from emergency
response personnel to cleanup crews or other agencies responsible for restoring the
facility and environment to a pre-incident condition.
32 Notify other agencies. Actions taken to ensure that other agencies are involved or
notified of the incident so that they may provide assistance or fulfill their legally
mandated responsibilities.
33 Provide information to the public or media. Actions taken to provide information to
the public through media resources or through alerting systems like the Emergency

The denotes a required field. 9–22 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 I HazMat Module - I

Broadcast System. Horns, klaxons, and other warning devices located at fixed
facilities for evacuation purposes are included here.
34 Investigate. Actions taken to investigate the cause of a hazardous materials release,
identify the financially responsible party, and enable cost-recovery efforts.
35 Standby. Actions taken to ensure that sufficient resources are on standby for
possible use at a hazardous materials incident.
00 HazMat actions taken, other. Any other actions taken during the course of a
hazardous materials incident that are not identified on the Basic or HazMat
Modules.

SECTION I I

I Release/Ignition Sequence
Definition
The indication of when a fire or explosion occurred in relation to the actual release of the
hazardous material.

Purpose
Information on the causal relationship of the events occurring during a hazardous materials
release can guide future training and incident management efforts.

Entry
Check or mark the Ignition box if a fire led to a release of hazardous materials. Check or mark
the Release box if a hazardous material was spilled or released and then caught fire.

Example
An explosion and fire occurred following the spill of a flammable liquid (2):
If fire or explosion is involved with a
I release, which occurred first?
1 Ignition U Undetermined
2 X Release

RELEASE/IGNITION SEQUENCE CODES

1 Ignition.
2 Release.
U Undetermined.

The denotes a required field. 9–23 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 J HazMat Module - J

SECTION J J

J Cause of Release
Definition
The cause of the situation present at the time and location of the incident that caused the
release or threatened release of a hazardous material.

Purpose
Information on the cause of release can guide prevention and enforcement efforts.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the cause or reason for the release.

Example
The hazardous material was released from a rusted drum (3):
Cause of Release
J
1 Intentional
2 Unintentional release
3 x Container/containment failure
4 Act of nature
5 Cause under investigation
U Cause undetermined after
investigation

CAUSE OF RELEASE CODES

1 Intentional.
2 Unintentional release.
3 Container or containment failure.
4 Act of nature.
5 Cause under investigation.
U Cause undetermined after investigation.

SECTION K K

K Factors Contributing to Release

Definition
Factors present at the time and location of the incident that contributed to the release or
threatened release of a hazardous material.

Purpose
Information on factors contributing to the release can guide prevention and enforcement
efforts.

The denotes a required field. 9–24 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K HazMat Module - K

Entry
Enter the two-digit codes and descriptions for up to three significant factors that contributed
to the release or threatened release of the hazardous material.

Example
Hazardous materials were released from rusted drums (32) (45) at an illegal dump site (31):

Factors Contributing to Release

K
Enter up to three contributing factors

3 1 Discarded HazMat
Factor contributing to release (1)

3 2 Improper storage/temperature
Factor contributing to release (2)

4 5 Improper container
Factor contributing to release (3)

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO RELEASE CODES

Failure To Control Hazardous Material. Factors where human failure to control

the hazardous material contributed to a release or potential release.
31 Abandoned or discarded hazardous material. Excludes falling asleep (33),
impairment by drugs or alcohol (37), and other impairments (38).
32 Failure to maintain the hazardous material within the proper storage or use
temperature range.
33 Failure to control the hazardous material due to a vehicle or process operator falling
asleep.
34 Inadequate control of hazardous materials. Includes improper transfer or overfilling
of a container. Excludes accidental release due to improper container (45).
37 Person possibly impaired by drugs or alcohol while controlling hazardous materials.
Excludes people who simply fall asleep (33).
38 Person otherwise impaired or unconscious. Includes mental or physical impairment.
Excludes people who simply fall asleep (33).
30 Failure to control hazardous materials, other. A human failure to control hazardous
materials not classified below.

The denotes a required field. 9–25 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 K HazMat Module - K

Misuse of Hazardous Materials

42 Improper mixing technique. Includes mixing and compounding of chemicals.
Excludes hazardous materials spills (34).
43 Hazardous materials used improperly. Includes chemicals used for the wrong
purpose.
45 Improper container. Includes containers not designed for the hazardous material
contained.
46 Improper movement of hazardous materials containers.
47 Improper storage procedures. Includes storage near heating equipment and moving
parts.
48 Children playing with hazardous materials and having no knowledge of the dangers
of hazardous materials.
40 Misuse of hazardous materials, other.

Mechanical Failure, Malfunction. (Where there is human failure to control,

classify in division 3.)
51 Automatic control failure.
52 Manual control failure.
53 Short circuit, ground fault.
54 Other part failure, leak, or break.
55 Other electrical failure.
56 Lack of maintenance, worn out. Includes failures to maintain hazardous materials
handling equipment. Excludes short circuits and ground faults (53) and failure to
clean (75).
50 Mechanical failure, malfunction, other.

Design, Construction, Installation Deficiency

61 Design deficiency. Includes structures and containers improperly designed for the
specific hazardous material.
62 Construction deficiency. Includes improperly built structures and containers.
64 Installation deficiency. Includes the improper installation of equipment for handling
or processing hazardous materials.
60 Design, construction, installation deficiency, other.

Operational Deficiency. (Where equipment was misused, classify in division 7;

misuse of hazardous materials should be classified in division 4.)
71 Collision, overturn, knockdown. Includes automobiles and other vehicles.
72 Accidentally turned on, not turned off.
73 Equipment unattended.
74 Equipment overload.
75 Failure to clean equipment.
76 Improper startup, shutdown procedures.
77 Equipment used for purpose not intended. Excludes overloaded equipment (74).
78 Equipment not being operated properly. Includes situations where safety or control
devices are bypassed.
70 Operational deficiency, other.

Natural Condition. (For use where the natural condition changed a normally
safe operation into an unsafe one.)
81 High wind. Includes tornadoes and hurricanes.
82 Earthquake.
83 High water, flood.
84 Lightning.
85 Low humidity.
86 High humidity.
87 Low temperature.

The denotes a required field. 9–26 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 L HazMat Module - L

88 High temperature.
80 Natural condition, other.

Special Release Factors

91 Animal.
92 Secondary release following previous release.
93 Reaction with other chemical.
97 Failure to use ordinary care under the circumstances, other than as classified
above.
00 Factors contributing to release, other.
UU Undetermined.

SECTION L L

L Factors Affecting Mitigation

Definition
Factors present at the time and location of the incident that affected the fire department’s
mitigation of the release or threatened release of a hazardous material.

Purpose
Information on factors affecting or impeding the mitigation of a release can guide training
efforts, resource planning, incident management, and prevention efforts.

Entry
Enter the two-digit codes and descriptions for up to three significant factors that impeded or
affected the mitigation of the release or threatened release of the hazardous material. If no fac-
tors affected the mitigation of the release, check or mark the None box.

Example
Flammable liquid was released from an overturned semi-trailer on an interstate highway (18)
during rush hour (34) in a severe thunderstorm (42):
Factors Affecting Mitigation None
L Enter up to three factors or impediments that affected the
mitigation of the incident

4 2 Storm
Factor or impediment (1)

3 4 Traffic delay
Factor or impediment (2)

1 8 Released on major roadway

Factor or impediment (3)

FACTORS AFFECTING MITIGATION CODES

Site Factors
11 Released into water table.
12 Released into sewer system.
13 Released into wildland/wetland area.

The denotes a required field. 9–27 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M HazMat Module - M

14 Released in residential area.

15 Released in occupied building.
16 Air release in confined area.
17 Released, slick on waterway.
18 Released on major roadway.
10 Site factors, other.

Release Factors
21 Release of extremely dangerous agent. Includes chemical or biohazard agent;
population at risk.
22 Threatened release of extremely dangerous agent. Includes chemical or biohazard
agent; population at risk.
23 Combination of release and fire impeded mitigation of HazMat incident.
24 Multiple chemicals released, unknown potential effects.
25 Release of unidentified chemicals, unknown potential effects.
20 Release factors, other.

Impediment or Delay Factors

31 Access to release area.
32 HazMat apparatus unavailable.
33 HazMat apparatus failure.
34 Traffic delay.
35 Trouble finding location.
36 Communications delay.
37 HazMat-trained crew unavailable or delayed.
30 Impediment or delay factors, other.

Natural Conditions
41 High wind.
42 Storm.
43 High water. Includes floods.
44 Earthquake.
45 Extreme high temperature.
46 Extreme low temperature.
47 Ice or snow conditions.
48 Lightning.
49 Animal.
40 Natural conditions, other.
00 Factors affecting mitigation, other.
NN None.

SECTION M M

M Equipment Involved in Release

. Most of the Equipment Involved in Release codes were included in Equipment Involved in
Ignition in NFIRS 4.1.

The denotes a required field. 9–28 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M HazMat Module - M

Equipment Type
Definition
The piece of equipment that either malfunctioned or, while working properly, allowed the
release or threatened release of hazardous materials.

Purpose
Analysis of the equipment involved in a HazMat release is useful for improving product
safety and preventive maintenance. It is just as important to know the kind of equipment that
was used improperly as it is to know the kind of equipment that malfunctioned. Misuse can be
the direct result of the way the equipment is designed and constructed. When involved in
release, equipment information provides an important part of the causal data. Equipment
involved in release can be compared to other causal data to determine if the equipment was
(or was not) operating properly.

Entry
Enter the three-digit code and description that best describes the equipment involved in the
release. If no equipment was involved, check or mark the None box.

. If a vehicle was involved in the release, use Section N.

Example
Refrigerant from a large commercial air conditioning unit was released (111):
Equipment Involved None
M in Release

1 1 1 Industrial air conditioner

Equipment involved in release

Brand

Model

Serial #

Year

. An alphabetized synonym list for the following Equipment Involved in Release codes is
presented in Appendix B.

EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IN RELEASE CODES

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

111 Air conditioner.
112 Heat pump.
113 Fan.
114 Humidifier, non-heat producing. Excludes heaters with built-in humidifiers (131,
132).
115 Ionizer.
116 Dehumidifier, portable.
117 Evaporative cooler, cooling tower.

The denotes a required field. 9–29 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M HazMat Module - M

121 Fireplace, masonry.

122 Fireplace, factory-built.
123 Fireplace, insert/stove.
124 Stove, heating.
125 Chimney connector, vent connector.
126 Chimney: brick, stone, masonry.
127 Chimney: metal. Includes stovepipes and flues.
120 Fireplace, chimney, other.
131 Furnace, local heating unit, built-in. Includes built-in humidifiers. Excludes process
furnaces, kilns (353).
132 Furnace, central heating unit. Includes built-in humidifiers. Excludes process
furnaces, kilns. (353)
133 Boiler (power, process, heating).
141 Heater. Includes floor furnaces, wall heaters, and baseboard heaters. Excludes
catalytic heaters (142), oil-filled heaters (143), hot water heaters (152).
142 Heater, catalytic.
143 Heater, oil-filled. Excludes kerosene heaters (141).
144 Heat lamp.
145 Heat tape.
151 Water heater. Includes sink-mounted instant hot water heaters and waterbed
heaters.
152 Steam line, heat pipe, hot air duct. Includes radiators and hot water baseboard
heaters.
100 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, other.

Electrical Distribution, Lighting, and Power Transfer

211 Electrical power (utility) line. Excludes wires from the utility pole to the structure.
212 Electrical service supply wires; wires from utility pole to meter box.
213 Electric meter, meter box.
214 Electrical wiring from meter box to circuit breaker board, fuse box, or panel board.
215 Panel board (fuse); switchboard, circuit breaker board with or without ground-fault
interrupter
216 Electrical branch circuit. Includes armored (metallic) cable, nonmetallic sheathing, or
wire in conduit.
217 Outlet, receptacle. Includes wall-type receptacles, electric dryer and stove
receptacles.
218 Wall-type switch. Includes light switches.
219 Ground-fault interrupter (GFI), portable, plug-in.
210 Electrical wiring, other.
221 Transformer, distribution-type.
222 Overcurrent, disconnect equipment. Excludes panel boards.
223 Transformer, low-voltage (not more than 50 volts).
224 Generator.
225 Inverter.
226 Uninterrupted power supply (UPS).
227 Surge protector.
228 Battery charger, rectifier.
229 Battery. Includes all battery types.
231 Lamp: tabletop, floor, desk. Excludes halogen fixtures (235) and light bulbs (238).
232 Lantern, flashlight.
233 Incandescent lighting fixture.
234 Fluorescent lighting fixture, ballast.
235 Halogen lighting fixture or lamp.
236 Sodium, mercury vapor lighting fixture or lamp.
237 Portable or movable work light, trouble light.

The denotes a required field. 9–30 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M HazMat Module - M

238 Light bulb.

230 Lamp, lighting, other.
241 Night light.
242 Decorative lights, line voltage. Includes holiday lighting, Christmas lights.
243 Decorative or landscape lighting, low voltage.
244 Sign. Includes neon signs.
251 Fence, electric.
252 Traffic control device
253 Lightning rod, arrester/grounding device.
261 Power cord, plug; detachable from appliance.
262 Power cord, plug; permanently attached to appliance.
263 Extension cord.
260 Cord, plug, other.
200 Electrical distribution, lighting, and power transfer, other.

Shop Tools and Industrial Equipment

311 Power saw.
312 Power lathe.
313 Power shaper, router, jointer, planer.
314 Power cutting tool.
315 Power drill, screwdriver.
316 Power sander, grinder, buffer, polisher.
317 Power hammer, jackhammer.
318 Power nail gun, stud driver, stapler.
310 Power tools, other.
321 Paint dipper.
322 Paint flow coating machine.
323 Paint mixing machine.
324 Paint sprayer.
325 Coating machine. Includes asphalt-saturating and rubber-spreading machines.
320 Painting tools, other.
331 Welding torch. Excludes cutting torches (332).
332 Cutting torch. Excludes welding torches (331).
333 Burners. Includes Bunsen burners, plumber furnaces, and blowtorches. Excludes
weed burners (523).
334 Soldering equipment.
341 Air compressor.
342 Gas compressor.
343 Atomizing equipment. Excludes paint spraying equipment (324).
344 Pump. Excludes pumps integrated with other types of equipment.
345 Wet/dry vacuum (shop vacuum).
346 Hoist, lift, crane.
347 Powered jacking equipment. Includes hydraulic rescue tools.
348 Drilling machinery or equipment. Includes water or gas drilling equipment.
340 Hydraulic equipment, other.
351 Heat-treating equipment.
352 Incinerator.
353 Industrial furnace, oven, kiln. Excludes ovens for cooking (646).
354 Tarpot, tar kettle.
355 Casting, molding, forging equipment.
356 Distilling equipment.
357 Digester, reactor.
358 Extractor, waste recovery machine. Includes solvent extractors such as used in dry-
cleaning operations and garnetting equipment.

The denotes a required field. 9–31 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M HazMat Module - M

361 Conveyor. Excludes agricultural conveyors (513).

362 Power transfer equipment: ropes, cables, blocks, belts.
363 Power takeoff.
364 Powered valves.
365 Bearing or brake.
371 Picking, carding, weaving machine. Includes cotton gins.
372 Testing equipment.
373 Gas regulator. Includes propane, butane, LP, or natural gas regulators and flexible
hose connectors to gas appliances.
374 Motor, separate. Includes bench motors. Excludes internal combustion motors
(375).
375 Internal combustion engine (nonvehicular).
376 Printing press.
377 Car washing equipment.
300 Shop tools and industrial equipment, other.

Commercial and Medical Equipment

411 Dental, medical, or other powered bed or chair. Includes powered wheelchairs.
412 Dental equipment, other.
413 Dialysis equipment.
414 Medical imaging equipment. Includes MRI, CAT scan, and ultrasound.
415 Medical monitoring equipment.
416 Oxygen administration equipment.
417 Radiological equipment, x-ray, radiation therapy.
418 Sterilizer, medical.
419 Therapeutic equipment.
410 Medical equipment, other.
421 Transmitter.
422 Telephone switching gear, including PBX.
423 TV monitor array. Includes control panels with multiple TV monitors and security
monitoring stations. Excludes single TV monitor configurations (753).
424 Studio-type TV camera. Includes professional studio television cameras. Excludes
home camcorders and video equipment (756).
425 Studio-type sound recording/modulating equipment.
426 Radar equipment.
431 Amusement ride equipment.
432 Ski lift.
433 Elevator or lift.
434 Escalator.
441 Microfilm, microfiche viewing equipment.
442 Photo processing equipment. Includes microfilm processing equipment.
443 Vending machine.
444 Nonvideo arcade game. Includes pinball machines and the like. Excludes electronic
video games (755).
445 Water fountain, water cooler.
446 Telescope. Includes radio telescopes.
451 Electron microscope.
450 Laboratory equipment, other.
400 Commercial and medical equipment, other.

Garden Tools and Agricultural Equipment

511 Combine, threshing machine.
512 Hay processing equipment.
513 Farm elevator or conveyor.
514 Silo loader, unloader, screw/sweep auger.

The denotes a required field. 9–32 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M HazMat Module - M

515 Feed grinder, mixer, blender.

516 Milking machine.
517 Pasteurizer. Includes milk pasteurizers.
518 Cream separator.
521 Sprayer, farm or garden.
522 Chain saw.
523 Weed burner.
524 Lawn mower.
525 Lawn, landscape trimmer, edger.
531 Lawn vacuum.
532 Leaf blower.
533 Mulcher, grinder, chipper. Includes leaf mulchers.
534 Snow blower, thrower.
535 Log splitter.
536 Post hole auger.
537 Post driver, pile driver.
538 Tiller, cultivator.
500 Garden tools and agricultural equipment, other.

Kitchen and Cooking Equipment

611 Blender, juicer, food processor, mixer.
612 Coffee grinder.
621 Can opener.
622 Knife.
623 Knife sharpener.
631 Coffee maker or teapot.
632 Food warmer, hot plate.
633 Kettle.
634 Popcorn popper.
635 Pressure cooker or canner.
636 Slow cooker.
637 Toaster, toaster oven, countertop broiler.
638 Waffle iron, griddle.
639 Wok, frying pan, skillet.
641 Bread-making machine.
642 Deep fryer.
643 Grill, hibachi, barbecue.
644 Microwave oven.
645 Oven, rotisserie.
646 Range with or without an oven or cooking surface. Includes counter-mounted
stoves.
647 Steam table, warming drawer/table.
651 Dishwasher.
652 Freezer when separate from refrigerator.
653 Garbage disposer.
654 Grease hood/duct exhaust fan.
655 Ice maker (separate from refrigerator).
656 Refrigerator, refrigerator/freezer.
600 Kitchen and cooking equipment, other.

Electronic and Other Electrical Equipment

711 Computer. Includes devices such as hard drives and modems installed inside the
computer casing. Excludes external storage devices (712).
712 Computer storage device, external. Includes CD-ROM devices, tape drives, and
disk drives. Excludes such devices when they are installed within a computer (711).

The denotes a required field. 9–33 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M HazMat Module - M

713 Computer modem, external. Includes digital, ISDN modems, cable modems, and
modem racks. Excludes modems installed within a computer (711).
714 Computer monitor. Includes LCD or flat-screen monitors.
715 Computer printer. Includes multifunctional devices such as copier, fax, and scanner.
716 Computer projection device, LCD panel, projector.
710 Computer device, other.
721 Adding machine, calculator.
722 Telephone or answering machine.
723 Cash register.
724 Copier. Includes large standalone copiers. Excludes small copiers and
multifunctional devices (715).
725 Fax machine.
726 Paper shredder.
727 Postage, shipping meter equipment.
728 Typewriter.
720 Office equipment, other.
731 Guitar.
732 Piano, organ. Includes player pianos. Excludes synthesizers and musical keyboards
(733).
733 Musical synthesizer or keyboard. Excludes pianos, organs (732).
730 Musical instrument, other.
741 CD player (audio). Excludes computer CD, DVD players (712).
742 Laser disk player. Includes DVD players and recorders.
743 Radio. Excludes two-way radios (744).
744 Radio, two-way.
745 Record player, phonograph, turntable.
747 Speakers, audio; separate components.
748 Stereo equipment. Includes receivers, amplifiers, equalizers. Excludes speakers
(747).
749 Tape recorder or player.
740 Sound recording or receiving equipment, other.
751 Cable converter box.
752 Projector: film, slide, overhead.
753 Television.
754 VCR or VCR–TV combination.
755 Video game, electronic.
756 Camcorder, video camera.
757 Photographic camera and equipment. Includes digital cameras.
750 Video equipment, other.
700 Electronic equipment, other.

Personal and Household Equipment

811 Clothes dryer.
812 Trash compactor.
813 Washer/dryer combination (within one frame).
814 Washing machine, clothes.
821 Hot tub, whirlpool, spa.
822 Swimming pool equipment.
830 Floor care equipment, other.
831 Broom, electric.
832 Carpet cleaning equipment. Includes rug shampooers.
833 Floor buffer, waxer, cleaner.
834 Vacuum cleaner.
841 Comb, hair brush.
842 Curling iron.

The denotes a required field. 9–34 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 M HazMat Module - M

843 Electrolysis equipment.

844 Hair curler warmer.
845 Hair dryer.
846 Makeup mirror, lighted.
847 Razor, shaver (electric).
848 Suntan equipment, sunlamp.
849 Toothbrush (electric).
850 Portable appliance designed to produce heat, other.
851 Baby bottle warmer.
852 Blanket, electric.
853 Heating pad.
854 Clothes steamer.
855 Clothes iron.
861 Automatic door opener. Excludes garage door openers (863).
862 Burglar alarm.
863 Garage door opener.
864 Gas detector.
865 Intercom.
866 Smoke or heat detector, fire alarm. Includes control equipment.
868 Thermostat.
871 Ashtray.
872 Charcoal lighter, utility lighter.
873 Cigarette lighter, pipe lighter.
874 Fire-extinguishing equipment. Includes electronic controls.
875 Insect trap. Includes bug zappers.
876 Timer.
881 Model vehicles. Includes model airplanes, boats, rockets, and powered vehicles
used for hobby and recreational purposes.
882 Toy, powered.
883 Woodburning kit.
891 Clock.
892 Gun.
893 Jewelry-cleaning machine.
894 Scissors.
895 Sewing machine.
896 Shoe polisher.
897 Sterilizer, non-medical.
800 Personal and household equipment, other.

Other Equipment Involved in Release

000 Equipment involved in release, other.
NNN None.
UUU Undetermined

Equipment Brand, Model, Serial Number, and Year

Definition
The information in this block precisely identifies the equipment that was involved in the
HazMat release. As possible, the following information should be recorded:

Brand: The name by which the equipment is most commonly known.

The denotes a required field. 9–35 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 N HazMat Module - N

Model: The model name or number assigned to the equipment by the manufacturer. If
there is no specific model name or number, use the common physical description of the
equipment.

Serial Number: The manufacturer’s serial number that is generally stamped on an identifi-
cation plate on the equipment.

Year: The year that the equipment was built.

Purpose
This element identifies specific types of equipment that failed or contributed to the release.
This information can be used to determine whether particular brands or models cause prob-
lems more frequently than others; and to identify equipment for product recalls or in the
development of new product safety codes.

Entry
Enter the brand, model, serial number, and year of the equipment involved in the release.

Example
The commercial air conditioner was a 1997 Freezidaire Model Z2000, serial number 1267–
45–0078:
Equipment Involved None
M in Release

1 1 1 Industrial air conditioner

Equipment involved in release

Brand Freezidaire

Model Z2000

Serial # 1267-45-0078

Year 1 9 9 7

SECTION N N

N Mobile Property Involved in Release

Property Type
Definition
Property designed and constructed to be mobile, movable under its own power, or towed, such
as an airplane, automobile, boat, cargo trailer, farm vehicle, motorcycle, or recreational vehi-
cle, that either failed or, while working properly, allowed the release or threatened release of
hazardous materials.

The denotes a required field. 9–36 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 N HazMat Module - N

Purpose
This information can guide prevention, enforcement, and product design efforts. Depending
on state and local laws, specific documentation on mobile property involved in the release of
a hazardous material may assist the fire department in collecting reimbursement from the
responsible party for the expenses incurred in mitigating the hazardous materials incident.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description of the type of mobile property. If no mobile property
was involved, check or mark the None box.

Example
Flammable gas was released from a propane delivery truck (26):

Mobile Property Involved in

N Release
None

2 6 LP Gas Tank Truck

Mobile property type

Mobile property make

Model Year

License plate number State

DOT number/ICC number

Make, Model, Year, License Number, State, DOT/ICC Number

Definitions
The information in this block precisely identifies the mobile property involved in a HazMat
release. As possible, the following information should be recorded:

Make: The name of the manufacturer of the property.

Model: The manufacturer’s model name. If one does not exist, use the physical description
of the property that is commonly used to describe it, such as an “8,500-gallon tank truck.”

Year: The year the property was manufactured.

License Plate Number (if any): The number on the license plates affixed to the vehicle;
plates are generally issued by the state agency of motor vehicles. License numbers may
also be available for boats, airplanes, and farm vehicles.

State: The state where the vehicle is licensed.

. If a commercial vehicle that is involved in the incident is licensed in multiple states,

record the state license where the release occurred. If no license exists for the state
where the release occurred, use the state license of the vehicle’s home origin.

The denotes a required field. 9–37 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 N HazMat Module - N

DOT/ICC Number: The identification number assigned to the commercial carrier by either
the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) or the Department of Transportation (DOT).
It is generally stenciled on the vehicle or trailer.

Purpose
This element provides detailed information that identifies the specific types of mobile prop-
erty involved in a hazardous materials release, which can be used to determine whether partic-
ular brands or models are more often a problem than others. Data on make, model, year, and
other information are useful for determining compliance to standards of mobile properties and
analyzing the effectiveness of these codes, standards, and regulations. The data also can be
used to identify any special hazards.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description of the property type. Enter the two-character code
(from the list at the end of this section) and description of the property make. Enter the
remaining information as appropriate. Be as specific as possible in making these entries.

. Both the License Plate Number and DOT Number/ICC Number are left-justified in their
fields.

Example
A release of LP gas from a 1967 Mack (MK) Bobtail tank truck occurred. The truck was
licensed in Virginia (plate 12345) and was stenciled with a DOT number of 189267:

Mobile Property Involved in

N Release
None

2 6 LP Gas Tank Truck

Mobile property type

M K Mack
Mobile property make

Bobtail 1 9 6 7
Model Year

1 2 3 4 5 V A
License plate number State

1 8 9 2 6 7
DOT number/ICC number

MOBILE PROPERTY TYPE CODES

Passenger Road Vehicles

11 Automobile, passenger car, ambulance, limousine, race car, taxicab.
12 Bus, school bus. Includes “trackless” trolley buses.
13 Off-road recreational vehicle. Includes dune buggies, golf carts, go-carts,
snowmobiles. Excludes sport utility vehicles (11) and motorcycles (18).
14 Motor home (has own engine), camper mounted on pickup, bookmobile.
15 Trailer, travel; designed to be towed.
16 Trailer, camping; collapsible, designed to be towed.
17 Mobile home, bank, classroom, or office (all designed to be towed), whether
mounted on a chassis or on blocks for semipermanent use.
18 Motorcycle, trail bike. Includes motor scooters and mopeds.
10 Passenger road vehicles, other.

The denotes a required field. 9–38 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 N HazMat Module - N

Freight Road Transport Vehicles

21 General use truck, dump truck, fire apparatus.
22 Hauling rig (non-motorized), pickup truck.
23 Trailer, semi; designed for freight (with or without tractor).
24 Tank truck, nonflammable cargo. Includes milk and water tankers, liquid nitrogen
tankers.
25 Tank truck, flammable or combustible liquid, chemical cargo.
26 Tank truck, compressed gas or LP gas.
27 Garbage, waste, refuse truck. Includes recyclable material collection trucks.
Excludes roll-on-type trash containers (73).
20 Freight road transport vehicles, other.

Rail Transport Vehicles

31 Diner car, passenger car.
32 Box, freight, or hopper car.
33 Tank car.
34 Container or piggyback car (see 73 for container).
35 Engine/locomotive.
36 Rapid transit car, trolley (self-powered for use on track). Includes self-powered rail
passenger vehicles.
37 Maintenance equipment car. Includes cabooses and cranes.
30 Rail transport vehicles, other.

Water Vessels
41 Boat less than 65 ft (20 m) in length overall. Excludes commercial fishing vessels
(48).
42 Boat or ship equal to or greater than 65 ft (20 m) in length but less than 1,000 tons.
43 Cruise liner or passenger ship equal to or greater than 1,000 tons.
44 Tank ship.
45 Personal water craft. Includes one- or two-person recreational water craft.
46 Cargo or military ship equal to or greater than 1,000 tons. Includes vessels not
classified in 44 and 47.
47 Non-self-propelled vessel. Includes all vessels without their own motive power, such
as towed petroleum balloons, barges, and other towed or towable vessels. Excludes
sailboats (49).
48 Commercial fishing or processing vessel. Includes shell fishing vessels.
49 Sailboats. Includes those with auxiliary power.
40 Water vessels, other.

Aircraft
51 Personal, business, utility aircraft less than 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) gross weight.
Includes gliders.
52 Personal, business, utility aircraft equal to or greater than 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) gross
weight.
53 Commercial aircraft: propeller-driven, fixed-wing. Includes turbo props.
54 Commercial aircraft: jet and other turbine-powered, fixed-wing.
55 Helicopters, nonmilitary. Includes gyrocopters.
56 Military fixed-wing aircraft. Includes bomber, fighter, patrol, vertical takeoff and
landing (fixed-wing vertical stall) aircraft.
57 Military non-fixed-wing aircraft. Includes helicopters.
58 Balloon vehicles. Includes hot air balloons and blimps.
50 Air, other.

The denotes a required field. 9–39 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 N HazMat Module - N

Industrial, Agricultural, Construction Vehicles

61 Construction vehicle. Includes bulldozers, shovels, graders, scrapers, trenchers,
plows, tunneling equipment, and road pavers.
63 Loader, industrial. Includes fork lifts, industrial tow motors, loaders, and stackers.
64 Crane.
65 Agricultural vehicle, baler, chopper (farm use).
67 Timber harvest vehicle. Includes skycars, loaders.
60 Industrial, construction, or agricultural vehicles, other.

Mobile Property, Miscellaneous

71 Home, garden vehicle. Includes riding lawnmowers, snow removal vehicles, riding
tractors. Excludes equipment where operator does not ride. See Equipment
Involved in Ignition.
73 Shipping container, mechanically moved. Includes haulable trash containers,
intermodal shipping containers.
74 Armored vehicle. Includes armored cars and military vehicles. Excludes armored
aircraft and ships.
75 Missile, rocket, and space vehicles.
76 Aerial tramway vehicle.
00 Mobile property, other.
NN No mobile property.

MOBILE PROPERTY MAKE CODES

AC Acura IF Infiniti PT Peterbilt
AR Alfa Romeo IN International PU Peugeot
AN Antique Vehicle IS Isuzu PI Pierce
AM Aston Martin IT Italjet PL Plymouth
AT ATK IV Iveco PN Pontiac
AU Audi JA Jaguar PR Porsche
BE Beta JE Jeep RG Range Rover
BM BMW KA Kawasaki RN Rogue (Ottowa)
BL Buell KE Kenworth RR Rolls Royce
BU Buick KI Kia SB Saab
CD Cadillac KT KTM SA Saturn
CP Caterpillar LR Land Rover SC Scania
CH Chevrolet LE Lexus SD Simon Duplex
CR Chrysler LI Lincoln ST Sterling
CV Classic Vehicle LO Lotus SU Subaru
CC Crane Carrier (CCC) MK Mack SZ Suzuki
DA Daihatsu ML Maely TO Toyota
DR Diamond Reo MA Maico TR Triumph
DO Dodge MH Marmon UD UD
DU Ducati MS Maserati UT Utilmaster
EA Eagle MZ Mazda VE Vespa
FE Ferrari MB Mercedes Benz VO Volkswagen
FO Ford MC Mercury VL Volvo
FR Freightliner MR Merkur VG Volvo GMC
FW FWD MT Mitsubishi WK Walker
GE Geo MO Montesa WL Walter
GM GMC (General Motors) MG Moto Guzzi WS Western Star
HD Harley Davidson MM Moto Morini WG White GMC
HI Hino NA Navistar YA Yamaha
HO Honda NI Nissan YU Yugo
HU Husqvarna OL Oldsmobile OO Other Make
HY Hyundai OS Oshkosh

The denotes a required field. 9–40 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 O HazMat Module - O

SECTION O O

O HazMat Disposition
Definition
The fire department either completed the handling of the hazardous materials incident or the
incident was released to another agency or to the property owner for completion.

Purpose
This element assists in understanding the extent to which the fire department is involved in
resolving the incident and the frequency in which other agencies or contractors are used for
incident
mitigation.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the final disposition of the incident by the fire
department.

Example
The scene was released to a qualified cleanup contractor (7):
HazMat Disposition
O
1 Completed by fire service only
2 Completed w/fire service present
3 Released to local agency
4 Released to county agency
5 Released to state agency
6 Released to federal agency
7 X Released to private agency
8 Released to property owner or
manager

HAZMAT DISPOSITION CODES

1 Completed by fire service only.

2 Completed with fire service present.
3 Released to local agency.
4 Released to county agency.
5 Released to state agency.
6 Released to federal agency.
7 Released to private agency.
8 Released to property owner or manager.

The denotes a required field. 9–41 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 P HazMat Module - P

SECTION P P

P HazMat Civilian Casualties

Definition
The number of civilians injured or killed, either as a result of a HazMat incident or the action
of handling the HazMat incident. The term injury refers to physical damage to a person that
requires either:

• Treatment within 1 year of the incident by a practitioner of medicine,

OR

• At least 1 day of restricted activity immediately following the incident. An injured person
is a casualty.

Purpose
The collection of information on the number of persons injured or killed as a result of their
contact or exposure to hazardous materials that have been spilled or released can provide a
concise measure of the scope of the human cost associated with hazardous materials inci-
dents. This information can also be correlated with container types, transport conditions,
actions taken, and other data to help understand how to reduce future HazMat injuries.

Entry
Identify and record separately the number of civilians injured and the number of civilians
killed as a result of a HazMat incident.

. The optional EMS Module may be completed for all non-fire service persons injured or
killed as a result of their contact or exposure to hazardous materials. The Civilian Fire
Casualty Module should not be used for this purpose unless the release resulted in a fire
and the civilians were injured as a result of the fire. The Fire Service Casualty Module
should be completed for all fire service personnel injured or killed as a result of their con-
tact or exposure to hazardous materials.

. HazMat civilian casualties should not be entered in Block H1 of the Basic Module.

Example
One hundred civilians had varying degrees of nausea and dizziness as a result of the HazMat
release:
HazMat Civilian Casualties
P
Deaths Injuries
1 0 0

The denotes a required field. 9–42 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 Basic Module
(NFIRS–1)

Fire Module
(NFIRS–2)

Chapter 10
Structure Fire Module
WILDLAND FIRE (NFIRS–3)

MODULE (NFIRS–8)
Civilian Fire
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–4)

Fire Service
Casualty Module
(NFIRS–5)

EMS Module
State NFIRS (NFIRS–6)
Reporting Authority

HazMat Module
(NFIRS–7)

U.S. Fire Administration

NATIONAL FIRE DATA CENTER
Wildland Fire
Module (NFIRS–8)

Apparatus/
Personnel Modules
(NFIRS–9/–10)

Arson Module
(NFIRS–11)
 NFIRS–8
A MM DD YYYY Delete
Wildland
Change
FDID State Incident Date Station Incident Number Exposure Fire

Alternate Location Specification Wildland Fire Cause Factors Contributing None

B D1 D3 to Ignition
Enter Latitude/Longitude OR Township/Range/Section/Subsection
Meridian if Section B on the Basic Module is not completed 1 Natural source 8 Misuse of fire #1 #2
2 Equipment 0 Other
U Undetermined Fire Suppression Factors
• •
3
4
Smoking
Open/outdoor fire
D4 None
Latitude Longitude #1
OR 5 Debris/vegetation burn Enter
6 Structure (exposure) up to
#2
North East 7 Incendiary three
factors
South
Township
• Range
West
#3
Human Factors Contributing
D2 to Ignition None
Check as many boxes as are applicable. Heat Source
Section Subsection Meridian
1 Asleep
E
Area Type 2
C 3
Possibly impaired by alcohol or drugs
Unattended person Mobile Property Type None
1 Rural, farms >50 acres 4 Possibly mentally disabled
F
2 Urban (heavily populated) 5 Physically disabled Equipment Involved None
3 Rural/urban or suburban 6 Multiple persons involved G in Ignition
4 Urban-wildland interface area 7 Age was a factor

Weather Information Number of Buildings Ignited

H I1 None
I4 Primary Crops Burned

Number of buildings that were Identify up to 3 crops if any crops were burned
NFDRS Weather Station ID ignited in Wildland fire

Number of Buildings Threatened

I2 Crop 1
Weather Type Wind Direction None
Number of buildings that were threatened by
Wildland fire but were not involved
F° Check if Crop 2
Wind Speed (mph) Air Temperature negative
Total Acres Burned
I3
% %
Crop 3
Relative Humidity Fuel Moisture Fire Danger Rating , , •

Property Management NFDRS Fuel Model at Origin Type of Right-of-Way

J K M None
Indicate the percent of the total acres burned for each owner- Enter the code and the descriptor corresponding Required if less than 100 feet
ship type then check the ONE box to identify the property owner- to the NFDRS Fuel Model at Origin
ship at the origin of the fire. If the ownership at origin is Federal,
enter the Federal Agency Code. Feet
Horizontal distance Type of right-of-way
from right-of-way
Ownership % Total Acres Burned
Person Responsible for Fire Fire Behavior
L1 N
U Undetermined %

1 Identified person caused fire These optional descriptors refer to observations

made at the point of initial attack
2 Unidentified person caused fire
Private 3 Fire not caused by person
If person identified, complete the rest of Section L

1 Tax paying % Feet

2 Non-tax paying L2 Gender of Person Involved Elevation
%
1 Male
2 Female Relative position on slope
Public
L3 Age or Date of Birth
3 City, town, village, local %
Aspect
Age in Years Date of Birth
4 County or parish %

5 % OR
State or province Feet
Month Day Year
6 Federal % Flame length
Federal Agency Code
L4 Activity of Person Involved
7 Foreign %
Chains per Hour
8 Military % Rate of spread
0 Other % Activity of Person Involved NFIRS–8 Revision 01/01/04

The denotes a required field. 10–2 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 Wildland Fire Module

CHAPTER 10

WILDLAND FIRE MODULE (NFIRS–8)

istorically, NFIRS data have not proven useful in understanding the nature and magnitude of
H the wildland fire problem. The optional Wildland Fire Module, in conjunction with the Basic
Module and other optional modules, attempts to rectify this problem by capturing data about the
number of acres burned, the type of materials involved, the conditions that contributed to the igni-
tion and spread of wildland fires, and the resources needed to control or extinguish them.

The purpose of the Wildland Fire Module is to document reportable wildland fires:

Reportable Wildland Fire: Any fire involving vegetative fuels, including a prescribed fire,
that occurs in the wildland or urban-wildland interface areas, including those fires that
threaten or consume structures.

Prescribed fires are included in this definition of reportable fires to better understand the role of
fire in the wildland ecosystem.

In accordance with your state or local policy, the Wildland Fire Module may be used in place of
the Fire Module (NFIRS–2) for the following Incident Type recorded on the Basic Module (Sec-
tion C).

140 – Natural Vegetation Fire, Other

141 – Forest, Woods, or Wildland Fire
142 – Brush, or Brush-and-Grass Mixture Fire
143 – Grass Fire
160 – Special Outside Fire, Other
170 – Cultivated Vegetation, Crop Fire, Other
171 – Cultivated Grain or Crop Fire
172 – Cultivated Orchard or Vineyard Fire
173 – Cultivated Trees or Nursery Stock Fire
561 – Unauthorized Burning
631 – Authorized Controlled Burning
632 – Prescribed Fire

. A prescribed fire that escapes management is a hostile fire (Incident Type 141). A hostile
fire cannot become a prescribed fire, but the management strategy (actions taken) may
change.

Definitions
For the purpose of wildland fire reporting, the following definitions are used:

Prescribed Fire: Any fire ignited by management actions to meet specific objectives. A
written, approved prescribed fire plan must exist prior to ignition.

The denotes a required field. 10–3 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 A Wildland Fire Module - A

Urban-Wildland Interface Area: The geographical area where structures and other human
development meets or intermingles with wildland or vegetative fuels.

Urban-Wildland Interface Fire: Any fire, other than a prescribed fire, where fire suppres-
sion tactics were influenced by a geographical area where structures and other human
development meets or intermingles with wildland or vegetative fuels.

Wildland Fire: Any fire involving vegetative fuels, other than a prescribed fire, that occurs
in the wildland. A wildland fire may expose and possibly consume structures (Incident
Type 141).

Wildland: An area where development is essentially nonexistent, except for roads, rail-
roads, power lines, and similar facilities.

The Wildland Fire Module permits wildland fires to be profiled in detail for resource allocation,
incident management, and fire impact analysis.

SECTION A A

The guidance and directions for completing Section A of the Wildland Fire Module are the same
as for Section A in the Basic Module. It is stressed that the entries in Section A of the Wildland
Fire Module must be identical with the entries on the corresponding Basic Module. An example
of a completed Section A can be found on page 3–8.

A Fire Department Identification (FDID)

Entry
Enter the same FDID number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

State
Entry
Enter the same state abbreviation found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Incident Date
Entry
Enter the same incident date found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Station Number
Entry
Enter the same station number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

The denotes a required field. 10–4 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Wildland Fire Module - B

Incident Number
Entry
Enter the same incident number found in Section A of the Basic Module.

Exposure Number
Entry
If this report is for an exposure fire, enter the same exposure number that was entered in Sec-
tion A of the Basic Module for that exposure.

Delete/Change
Definition
Indicates a change to information submitted on a previous Wildland Fire Module or a deletion
of all information regarding the incident.

Purpose
To delete or change previously reported information.

Entry
Delete. Check or mark this box when you have previously submitted data on this wildland
incident and now want to have the data on this incident deleted from the database. If this box
is marked, complete Section A and leave the rest of the report blank. Forward the report
according to your normally established procedures.

Change. Check or mark this box only if you previously submitted this fire incident to your
state reporting authority and now want to update or change the information in the state data-
base. Complete Section A and any other sections or blocks that need to be updated or cor-
rected. If you need to blank a field that contains data, you must resubmit the original module
containing the newly blanked field along with all the other original information in the module
for that incident. This action is required only when sending an updated module to your state
reporting authority. Forward the report according to your normally established procedures.

SECTION B B

B Alternate Location Specification

. Enter either latitude/longitude or section/township/range/subsection/meridian location
information. Do not enter both.

. To use this addressing feature, the alternate address box on the Basic Module (Section B)
must be checked or marked.

The denotes a required field. 10–5 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Wildland Fire Module - B

Definition
The location of the wildland fire. This block documents the geographical location of the wild-
land fire and is used in place of Section B of the Basic Module when traditional addressing
methods are not suitable.

Latitude and Longitude: Angular coordinates measured with respect to the center of the
Earth. The value is expressed in degrees and minutes. Valid inputs for Latitude are in the
range –90 to 90 (north is positive). Valid inputs for Longitude are in the range –180 to 180
(east is positive).

Township: Consists of 36 sections arranged in a six-by-six array, measuring 6 miles by 6

miles. Sections are numbered beginning with the northeast-most section, proceeding west
to 6, then south along the west edge of the township and to the east. This array is depicted
below:
1 mile
Township Sections

6 5 4 3 2 1 1 mile

7 8 9 10 11 12
Quarter Section (~160 acres)

2nd Q 1st Q
(NW) (NE)
18 17 16 15 14 13 3rd Q 4th Q
(SW) (SE)

19 20 21 22 23 24
Subsection (~40 acres)
NE

30 29 28 27 26 25

31 32 33 34 35 36

36 square miles = ~5,760 acres

Section 35 - 3rd Quarter
(Subsection = SE of SW)

The last digit (decimal point) in this field denotes quarter Townships represented by the
following coding:

3 1st Quarter 7 3rd Quarter

5 2nd Quarter 0 4th Quarter

Range: Assigned to a township by measuring east or west of a principal meridian.

Section: Basic unit of the system, a square tract of line 1 mile by 1 mile containing 640
acres.

Subsection: Within each section, the land is referred to as half and quarter sections. A one-
sixteenth division is called a subsection (sometimes referred to as a quarter of a quarter). A
valid entry is one of the following 16 possibilities:

The denotes a required field. 10–6 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 B Wildland Fire Module - B

SUBSECTION CODES

NENE Northeast of northeast NWNE Northwest of northeast

NENW Northeast of northwest NWNW Northwest of northwest
NESE Northeast of southeast NWSE Northwest of southeast
NESW Northeast of southwest NWSW Northwest of southwest

SENE Southeast of northeast SWNE Southwest of northeast

SENW Southeast of northwest SWNW Southwest of northwest
SESE Southeast of southeast SWSE Southwest of southeast
SESW Southeast of southwest SWSW Southwest of southwest

. In some regions, the term subsection is not used. Thus, it is permissible to leave this
field blank.

Principal Meridian: Reference or beginning point for measuring east or west ranges.

MERIDIAN CODES
01 First Principal 17 Indian 33 Willamette
02 Second Principal 18 Louisiana 34 Wind River
03 Third Principal 19 Michigan 35 Ohio
04 Fourth Principal 20 Principal 36 Great Miami River
05 Fifth Principal 21 Mt. Diablo 37 Muskingum River
06 Sixth Principal 22 Navajo 38 Ohio River
07 Black Hills 23 New Mexico 39 First Scioto River
08 Boise 24 St. Helena 40 Second Scioto River
09 Chickasaw 25 St. Stephens 41 Third Scioto River
10 Choctaw 26 Salt Lake 42 Ellicotts Line
11 Cimarron 27 San Bernardino 43 12 Mile Square
12 Copper River 28 Seward 44 Kateel River
13 Fairbanks 29 Tallahassee 45 Umiat
14 Gila and Salt River 30 Uintah UU Undetermined
15 Humboldt 31 Ute
16 Huntsville 32 Washington

Purpose
This information may be of value to local authorities for contacting the owner in connection
with the fire and in making a long-term analysis of wildland fires in similar areas or on
property under the same ownership.

Entry
Enter the alternate location information using the specific Latitude and Longitude where the
fire started or, alternatively, enter the Section, Township, Range, and Meridian.

Example
The wildland fire (1) occurred in Fort Collins, Colorado, at a latitude of 40°45' N and longi-
tude of 105°5' W; or (2) was located on John Wayne’s boyhood family farm in California
located at Section 34, Township 7N, Range 12W, San Bernardino (27) Meridian:

The denotes a required field. 10–7 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 C Wildland Fire Module - C

Alternate Location Specification B Alternate Location Specification

B Enter Latitude/Longitude OR Township/Range/Section/Subsection/ Enter Latitude/Longitude OR Township/Range/Section/Subsection/
Meridian if Section B on the Basic Module is not completed Meridian if Section B on the Basic Module is not completed

4 0 4 5 1 0 5 5 • •
Latitude
• Longitude
• OR Latitude Longitude

OR OR
North East North East
South South
Township
• Range
West
Township
• Range
West

3 4 2 7
Section Subsection Meridian Section Subsection Meridian

(1) (2)

SECTION C C

C Area Type
Definition
A general description of the area where the wildland fire occurred.

Purpose
Aggregate information on the areas where wildland fires occur helps determine the level of
risk from fires in densely populated areas versus those in rural areas. This field also docu-
ments fires occurring in urban-wildland interface areas.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the area type where the wildland fire occurred.

Example
The wildland fire occurred on a 100-acre farm in a rural area (1):

Area Type
C
1 x Rural, farms >50 acres
2 Urban (heavily populated)
3 Rural/urban or suburban
4 Urban-wildland interface area

AREA TYPE CODES

1 Rural, open fields, forests, or cultivated land greater than 50 acres that is located
away from any concentrated housing areas.
2 Urban, cities, or heavily populated areas.
3 Rural/urban or suburban. Includes a predominantly residential area outlying an
urban area. May include small open fields, forests, and cultivated land.
4 Urban-wildland interface area. Includes geographical area where structures and
other human development meets or intermingles with wildland/vegetative fuels.

The denotes a required field. 10–8 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Wildland Fire Module - D

SECTION D D

This section collects information on the factors and causes of the fire’s ignition, and what condi-
tions may have affected fire suppression efforts.

D1 Wildland Fire Cause

Definition
This block provides for the broadest classification of ignition causes consistent with the
“General Fire Causes” adopted by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).

Purpose
The primary use of this information is to distinguish between human- and nature-caused
wildland fires.

Entry
Check or mark the box that best describes the cause of the wildland fire.

. Wildland Fire Cause is a critical data element, and it is important to complete the addi-
tional blocks in this module to provide a better understanding of how and why the fire
started.

Example
A discarded cigarette (3) started the wildland fire:

D1 Wildland Fire Cause

1 Natural source 8 Misuse of fire

2 Equipment 0 Other
3 x Smoking U Undetermined
4 Open/outdoor fire
5 Debris/vegetation burn
6 Structure (exposure)
7 Incendiary

WILDLAND FIRE CAUSE CODES

1 Natural source.
2 Equipment.
3 Smoking.
4 Open/outdoor fire.
5 Debris, vegetation burn.
6 Structure (exposure).
7 Incendiary.
8 Misuse of fire.
0 Wildland fire cause, other.
U Undetermined.

The denotes a required field. 10–9 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Wildland Fire Module - D

Human Factors Contributing to Ignition

D2 Definition
The human condition or situation that allowed the heat source and combustible material to
combine to ignite the fire.

Purpose
Combined with Wildland Fire Cause and Factors Contributing to Ignition, this element
explains how and why the fire started. The data element Age Was a Factor is particularly use-
ful in tracking juvenile firesetter trends when used in combination with Gender of Person
Involved (Block L2) and Age or Date of Birth (Block L3). It can also indicate whether a fire is
potentially preventable through public education or other strategies.

Entry
Check or mark the boxes that best describe any human factors that contributed to the ignition
of the wildland fire. Multiple factors can be selected. If human factors were not involved or
cannot be determined, check or mark the None box only.

Example
The camper fell asleep (1) after starting a campfire that went out of control:
Human Factors Contributing
D2 to Ignition None

Check as many boxes as are applicable

1 x Asleep
2 Possibly impaired by alcohol or drugs
3 Unattended person
4 Possibly mentally disabled
5 Physically disabled
6 Multiple persons involved
7 Age was a factor

HUMAN FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO IGNITION CODES

1 Asleep. Includes fires that result from a person falling asleep while smoking.
2 Possibly impaired by alcohol or drugs. Includes people who fall asleep or act
recklessly or carelessly as a result of drugs or alcohol. Excludes people who simply
fall asleep (1).
3 Unattended or unsupervised person. Includes “latch key” situations whether the
person involved is young or old and situations where the person involved lacked
supervision or care.
4 Possibly mentally disabled. Excludes impairments of a temporary nature such as
those caused by drugs or alcohol (2).
5 Physically disabled.
6 Multiple persons involved. Includes gang activity.
7 Age was a factor.
N None.

The denotes a required field. 10–10 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Wildland Fire Module - D

Factors Contributing to Ignition

D3 . Factors Contributing to Ignition was known as Ignition Factors in NFIRS 4.1.
Definition
The contributing factors that allowed the heat source and combustible material to combine to
ignite the fire.

Purpose
When used in conjunction with other elements such as Wildland Fire Cause, Equipment
Involved in Ignition, Heat Source, and Human Factors, this element explains how and why
the fire started. The analysis of how these elements interact provides valuable information to
guide and direct fire prevention and fire safety education programs.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description for up to two factors that contributed to the ignition
of the wildland fire. The primary factor should be entered first. If it is known that no factors
contributed to ignition, check or mark the None box only; if uncertain, leave the block blank.

Example
The campers placed their trash bag too close to the cooking fire (12 and 74):
Factors Contributing None
D3 to Ignition
#1 1 2 Too close #2 7 4 Open fire

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO IGNITION CODES

Misuse of Material or Product

11 Abandoned or discarded materials or products. Includes discarded cigarettes,
cigars, tobacco embers, hot ashes, or other burning matter. Excludes outside fires
left unattended.
12 Heat source too close to combustibles.
13 Cutting, welding too close to combustibles.
14 Flammable liquid or gas spilled. Excludes improper fueling technique (15) and
release due to improper container (18).
15 Improper fueling technique. Includes overfueling, failure to ground. Excludes fuel
spills (14) and using the improper fuel (27).
16 Flammable liquid used to kindle fire.
17 Washing part or material, painting with flammable liquid.
18 Improper container or storage procedure. Includes gasoline in unimproved
containers, gas containers stored at excessive temperature, and storage conditions
that lead to spontaneous ignition.
19 Playing with heat source. Includes playing with matches, candles, and lighters and
bringing combustibles into a heat source.
10 Misuse of material or product, other.

Mechanical Failure, Malfunction

21 Automatic control failure.
22 Manual control failure.
23 Leak or break. Includes leaks or breaks of containers or pipes. Excludes operational
deficiencies and spill mishaps.

The denotes a required field. 10–11 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Wildland Fire Module - D

25 Worn out.
26 Backfire. Excludes fires originating as a result of hot catalytic converters (41).
27 Improper fuel used. Includes the use of gasoline in a kerosene heater and the like.
20 Mechanical failure, malfunction, other.

Electrical Failure, Malfunction

31 Water-caused short-circuit arc.
32 Short-circuit arc from mechanical damage.
33 Short-circuit arc from defective, worn insulation.
34 Unspecified short-circuit arc.
35 Arc from faulty contact, broken conductor. Includes broken power lines and loose
connections.
36 Arc, spark from operating equipment, switch, or electric fence.
37 Fluorescent light ballast.
30 Electrical failure, malfunction, other.

Design, Manufacturing, Installation Deficiency

41 Design deficiency.
42 Construction deficiency.
43 Installation deficiency.
44 Manufacturing deficiency.
40 Design, manufacturing, installation deficiency, other.

Operational Deficiency
51 Collision, knock down, run over, turn over. Includes automobiles and other vehicles.
52 Accidentally turned on, not turned off.
53 Equipment unattended.
54 Equipment overloaded.
55 Failure to clean. Includes lint and grease buildups in chimneys, stove pipes.
56 Improper startup/shutdown procedure.
57 Equipment not used for purpose intended. Excludes overloaded equipment (54).
58 Equipment not operated properly.
50 Operational deficiency, other.

Natural Condition
61 High wind.
62 Storm.
63 High water, including floods.
64 Earthquake.
65 Volcanic action.
66 Animal.
60 Natural condition, other.

Fire Spread or Control

71 Exposure fire.
72 Rekindle.
73 Outside/open fire for debris or waste disposal.
74 Outside/open fire for warming or cooking.
75 Agriculture or land management burns. Includes prescribed burns.
70 Fire spread or control, other.

Other Human Factors Contributing to Ignition

00 Human factors contributing to ignition, other.
NN None.
UU Undetermined.

The denotes a required field. 10–12 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Wildland Fire Module - D

Fire Suppression Factors

D4 Definition
Factors that contributed to the growth, spread, or suppression of the fire. This is used to report
incident information that directly impacted the ignition, spread of fire, incident complexity, or
presence of hazardous conditions.

Purpose
Fire suppression factors provide essential guides for planning strategic and tactical procedures
for future incidents, as well as for identifying fire training and equipment needs.

Entry
Enter the three-digit code and description for up to three fire suppression factors or conditions
that constituted a significant fire suppression problem or affected how the fire was managed.
If no factors were involved in the fire suppression effort, check or mark the None box.

Example
A large brush fire was burning on a military installation (462) in an area where unexploded
munitions (327) could be encountered. The incident commander decided the best course of
action was to allow the fire to burn but to establish a control line outside the perimeter of the
installation:
Fire Suppression Factors None
D4
#1 4 6 2 Military activity
Enter
up to
#2
three 3 2 7 Explosive hazard
factors

#3

FIRE SUPPRESSION FACTORS CODES

Building Construction or Design

112 Roof collapse.
113 Roof assembly combustible.
121 Ceiling collapse.
125 Holes or openings in walls or ceilings.
131 Wall collapse.
132 Difficult to ventilate.
134 Combustible interior finish.
137 Balloon construction.
138 Internal arrangement of partitions.
139 Internal arrangement of stock or contents.
141 Floor collapse.
151 Lack of fire barrier walls or doors.
153 Transoms.
161 Attic undivided.
166 Insulation combustible.
173 Stairwell not enclosed.
174 Elevator shaft.
175 Dumbwaiter.
176 Duct, vertical.

The denotes a required field. 10–13 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Wildland Fire Module - D

177 Chute: rubbish, garbage, laundry.

181 Supports unprotected.
182 Composite plywood I-beam construction.
183 Composite roof/floor sheathing construction.
185 Wood truss construction.
186 Metal truss construction.
187 Fixed burglar protection assemblies (bars, grills on windows or doors).
188 Quick release failure of bars on windows or doors.
192 Previously damaged by fire.
100 Building construction or design, other.

Act or Omission
213 Doors left open or outside door unsecured.
214 Fire doors blocked or did not close properly.
218 Violation of applicable or locally adopted fire, building, or life safety code.
222 Illegal and clandestine drug operation.
232 Intoxication, drugs or alcohol.
253 Riot or civil disturbance. Includes hostile acts.
254 Person(s) interfered with operations.
283 Accelerant used.
200 Act or omission, other.

On-Site Materials
311 Aisles blocked or improper width.
312 Significant and unusual fuel load from structure components.
313 Significant and unusual fuel load from contents of structure.
314 Significant and unusual fuel load outside from natural environment conditions.
315 Significant and unusual fuel load from man-made condition.
316 Storage, improper.
321 Radiological hazard onsite.
322 Biological hazard onsite.
323 Cryogenic hazard onsite.
324 Hazardous chemical, corrosive material, or oxidizer.
325 Flammable/combustible liquid hazard.
327 Explosives hazard present.
331 Decorations. Includes crepe paper, garland.
341 Natural or other lighter-than-air gas present.
342 Liquefied petroleum (LPG) or other heavier-than-air gas present.
361 Combustible storage >12 feet to top of storage. Excludes rack storage (362).
362 High rack storage.
300 On-site materials, other.

Delays
411 Delayed detection of fire.
412 Delayed reporting of fire. Includes occupants investigating the source of the alarm or
smoke before calling the fire department.
413 Alarm system malfunction.
414 Alarm system shut off for valid reason. Includes systems being maintained or
repaired.
415 Alarm system inappropriately shut off.
421 Unable to contact fire department. Includes use of wrong phone number and cellular
mobile phone problems.
424 Information incomplete or incorrect.
425 Communications problem; system failure of local, public, or other telephone
network.

The denotes a required field. 10–14 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 D Wildland Fire Module - D

431 Blocked or obstructed roadway. Includes blockages due to construction or illegal

parking.
434 Poor or no access for fire department apparatus.
435 Traffic delay.
436 Trouble finding location.
437 Size, height, or other building characteristic delayed access to fire.
438 Power lines down/arcing.
443 Poor access for firefighters.
444 Secured area.
445 Guard dogs.
446 Aggressive animals. Excludes guard dogs (445).
447 Suppression delayed due to evaluation of hazardous or unknown materials at
incident scene.
448 Locked or jammed doors.
451 Apparatus failure before arrival at incident.
452 Hydrants inoperative.
461 Airspace restriction.
462 Military activity.
481 Closest apparatus unavailable.
400 Delays, other.

Protective Equipment
510 Automatic fire suppression system problem. Includes system failures, shutoffs,
inadequate protection to cover hazard, and the like.
520 Automatic sprinkler or standpipe/fire department connection problem. Includes
damage, blockage, failure, improper installation.
531 Water supply inadequate: private.
532 Water supply inadequate: public.
543 Electrical power outage.
561 Failure of rated fire protection assembly. Includes fire doors, fire walls, floor/ceiling
assemblies, and the like.
562 Protective equipment negated illegally or irresponsibly. Includes fire doors,
dampers, sprinklers, and the like.
500 Protective equipment, other.

Egress/Exit Problems
611 Occupancy load above legal limit.
612 Evacuation activity impeded fire department access.
613 Window type impeded egress. Includes windows too small.
614 Windowless wall.
621 Young occupants.
622 Elderly occupants
623 Physically disabled occupants.
624 Mentally disabled occupants.
625 Physically restrained/confined occupants.
626 Medically disabled occupants.
641 Special event.
642 Public gathering.
600 Egress/exit problems, other.

Natural Conditions
711 Drought or low fuel moisture.
712 Humidity, low.
713 Humidity, high.
714 Temperature, low.
715 Temperature, high.

The denotes a required field. 10–15 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Wildland Fire Module - E

721 Fog.
722 Flooding.
723 Ice.
724 Rain.
725 Snow.
732 Wind. Includes hurricanes and tornados.
741 Earthquake.
760 Unusual vegetation fuel loading.
771 Threatened or endangered species.
772 Timber sale activity.
773 Fire restriction.
774 Historic disturbance (past fire history can dictate fire behavior).
775 Urban-wildland interface area.
700 Natural conditions, other.

Other Fire Suppression Factors

000 Fire suppression factors, other.
NNN None.

SECTION E E

E Heat Source
. Heat Source was known as Form of Heat of Ignition in NFIRS 4.1.

Definition
The specific source of the heat energy that started the fire.

Purpose
This information, combined with other factors in the ignition sequence, permits analysis of
how fires start. Also, some heat sources (e.g., cigarettes, lighters) are objects whose frequency
of involvement in fires is of direct interest for fire prevention efforts.

Entry
Enter the two-digit code and description that best describes the heat source that ignited the
fire.

Example
A discarded cigarette (61) ignited the brush, resulting in a wildland fire:
Heat Source
E
6 1 Cigarette

The denotes a required field. 10–16 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 E Wildland Fire Module - E

HEAT SOURCE CODES

Operating Equipment
11 Spark, ember, or flame from operating equipment.
12 Radiated or conducted heat from operating equipment.
13 Electrical arcing.
10 Heat from operating equipment, other.

Hot or Smoldering Object

41 Heat, spark from friction. Includes overheated tires.
42 Molten, hot material. Includes molten metal, hot forging, hot glass, hot metal
fragment, brake shoe, hot box, and slag from arc welding operations.
43 Hot ember or ash. Includes hot coals, coke, and charcoal; and sparks or embers
from a chimney that ignite the roof of the same structure. Excludes flying brand,
embers, and sparks (83); and embers accidentally escaping from operating
equipment (11).
40 Hot or smoldering object, other.

Explosives, Fireworks
51 Munitions. Includes bombs, ammunition, and military rockets.
53 Blasting agent, primer cord, black powder fuse. Includes fertilizing agents,
ammonium nitrate, and sodium, potassium, or other chemical agents.
54 Fireworks. Includes sparklers, paper caps, party poppers, and firecrackers.
55 Model and amateur rockets.
56 Incendiary device. Includes Molotov cocktails and arson sets.
50 Explosive, fireworks, other.

Other Open Flame or Smoking Materials

61 Cigarette.
62 Pipe or cigar.
63 Heat from undetermined smoking material.
64 Match.
65 Lighter: cigarette lighter, cigar lighter.
66 Candle.
67 Warning or road flare; fusee.
68 Backfire from internal combustion engine. Excludes flames and sparks from an
exhaust system (11).
69 Flame/torch used for lighting. Includes gas light and gas-/liquid-fueled lantern.
60 Heat from open flame or smoking materials, other.

Chemical, Natural Heat Sources

71 Sunlight. Usually magnified through glass, bottles, etc.
72 Spontaneous combustion, chemical reaction.
73 Lightning discharge.
74 Other static discharge. Excludes electrical arcs (13) or sparks (11).
70 Chemical, natural heat sources, other.

Heat Spread From Another Fire. Excludes operating equipment.

81 Heat from direct flame, convection currents spreading from another fire.
82 Radiated heat from another fire. Excludes heat from exhaust systems of fuel-fired,
fuel-powered equipment (12).
83 Flying brand, ember, spark. Excludes embers, sparks from a chimney igniting the
roof of the same structure (43).
84 Conducted heat from another fire.
80 Heat spread from another fire, other.

The denotes a required field. 10–17 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Wildland Fire Module - F

Other Heat Sources

97 Multiple heat sources, including multiple ignitions. If one type of heat source was
primarily involved, use that classification.
00 Heat sources, other.
UU Undetermined.

SECTION F F

F Mobile Property Type

Definition
Property that is designed and constructed to be mobile, movable under its own power, or
towed, such as an airplane, automobile, boat, cargo trailer, farm vehicle, motorcycle, or recre-
ation vehicle.

Purpose
This data element provides detailed information to identify the specific types of mobile prop-
erty involved in an incident. The data also can be used to see if the public needs to be alerted
to special hazards.

Entry
If the mobile property type started the fire, but did not burn itself, enter the two-digit code and
description that best describes the mobile property type. If no mobile property started the fire,
check or mark the None box.

Example
A camping trailer (16) caught fire and spread to the surrounding brush:
Mobile Property Type None
F
1 6 Camping trailer

MOBILE PROPERTY TYPE CODES

Passenger Road Vehicles

11 Automobile, passenger car, ambulance, limousine, race car, taxicab.
12 Bus, school bus. Includes “trackless” trolley buses.
13 Off-road recreational vehicle. Includes dune buggies, golf carts, go-carts,
snowmobiles. Excludes sport utility vehicles (11) and motorcycles (18).
14 Motor home (has own engine), camper mounted on pickup, bookmobile.
15 Trailer, travel; designed to be towed.
16 Trailer, camping; collapsible, designed to be towed.
17 Mobile home, bank, classroom, or office (all designed to be towed), whether
mounted on a chassis or on blocks for semipermanent use.
18 Motorcycle, trail bike. Includes motor scooters and mopeds.
10 Passenger road vehicles, other.

Freight Road Vehicles

21 General use truck, dump truck, fire apparatus.
22 Hauling rig (non-motorized), pickup truck.

The denotes a required field. 10–18 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Wildland Fire Module - F

23 Trailer, semi; designed for freight (with or without tractor).

24 Tank truck, nonflammable cargo. Includes milk and water tankers, liquid nitrogen
tankers.
25 Tank truck, flammable or combustible liquid, chemical cargo.
26 Tank truck, compressed gas or LP gas.
27 Garbage, waste, refuse truck. Includes recyclable material collection trucks.
Excludes roll-on-type trash containers (73).
20 Freight road transport vehicles, other.

Rail Transport Vehicles

31 Diner car, passenger car.
32 Box, freight, or hopper car.
33 Tank car.
34 Container or piggyback car (see 73 for container).
35 Engine/locomotive.
36 Rapid transit car, trolley (self-powered for use on track). Includes self-powered rail
passenger vehicles.
37 Maintenance equipment car. Includes cabooses and cranes.
30 Rail transport vehicles, other.

Water Vessels
41 Boat less than 65 ft (20 m) in length overall. Excludes commercial fishing vessels
(48).
42 Boat or ship equal to or greater than 65 ft (20 m) in length but less than 1,000 tons.
43 Cruise liner or passenger ship equal to or greater than 1,000 tons.
44 Tank ship.
45 Personal water craft. Includes one- or two-person recreational water craft.
46 Cargo or military ship equal to or greater than 1,000 tons. Includes vessels not
classified in 44 and 47.
47 Non-self-propelled vessel. Includes all vessels without their own motive power, such
as towed petroleum balloons, barges, and other towed or towable vessels. Excludes
sailboats (49).
48 Commercial fishing or processing vessel. Includes shell fishing vessels.
49 Sailboats. Includes those with auxiliary power.
40 Water transport vessels, other.

Aircraft
51 Personal, business, utility aircraft less than 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) gross weight.
Includes gliders.
52 Personal, business, utility aircraft equal to or greater than 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) gross
weight.
53 Commercial aircraft: propeller-driven, fixed-wing. Includes turbo props.
54 Commercial aircraft: jet and other turbine-powered, fixed-wing.
55 Helicopters, nonmilitary. Includes gyrocopters.
56 Military fixed-wing aircraft. Includes bomber, fighter, patrol, vertical takeoff and
landing (fixed-wing vertical stall) aircraft.
57 Military non-fixed-wing aircraft. Includes helicopters.
58 Balloon vehicles. Includes hot air balloons and blimps.
50 Air transport vehicles, other.

Industrial, Agricultural, Construction Vehicles

61 Construction vehicle. Includes bulldozers, shovels, graders, scrapers, trenchers,
plows, tunneling equipment, and road pavers.
63 Loader, industrial. Includes fork lifts, industrial tow motors, loaders, and stackers.
64 Crane.
65 Agricultural vehicle, baler, chopper (farm use).

The denotes a required field. 10–19 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 F Wildland Fire Module - F

67 Timber harvest vehicle. Includes skycars, loaders.

60 Industrial, construction, or agricultural vehicles, other.

Mobile Property, Miscellaneous

71 Home, garden vehicle. Includes riding lawnmowers, snow removal vehicles, riding
tractors. Excludes equipment where operator does not ride. See Equipment
Involved in Ignition.
73 Shipping container, mechanically moved. Includes haulable trash containers,
intermodal shipping containers.
74 Armored vehicle. Includes armored cars and military vehicles. Excludes armored
aircraft and ships.
75 Missile, rocket, and space vehicles.
76 Aerial tramway vehicle.
00 Mobile property, other.
NN No mobile property.

Aircraft
50 Air transport vehicles, other.
51 Personal, business, utility aircraft less than 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) gross weight.
Includes gliders.
52 Personal, business, utility aircraft equal to or greater than 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) gross
weight.
53 Commercial transport aircraft: propeller-driven, fixed-wing. Includes turbo props.
54 Commercial transport aircraft: jet and other turbine-powered, fixed-wing.
55 Helicopters, nonmilitary. Includes gyrocopters.
56 Military fixed-wing aircraft. Includes bomber, fighter, patrol, vertical takeoff and
landing (fixed-wing vertical stall) aircraft.
57 Military non-fixed-wing aircraft. Includes helicopters.
58 Balloon vehicles. Includes hot air balloons and blimps.

Industrial, Agricultural, Construction Vehicles

60 Industrial, construction, or agricultural vehicles, other.
61 Construction vehicle. Includes bulldozers, shovels, graders, scrapers, trenchers,
plows, tunneling equipment, and road pavers.
63 Loader, industrial. Includes fork lifts, industrial tow motors, loaders, and stackers.
64 Crane.
65 Agricultural vehicle, baler, chopper (farm use).
67 Timber harvest vehicle. Includes skycars, loaders.

Mobile Property, Miscellaneous

71 Home, garden vehicle. Includes riding lawnmowers, snow removal vehicles, riding
tractors. Excludes equipment where operator does not ride. See Equipment
Involved in Ignition.
73 Shipping container, mechanically moved. Includes haulable trash containers,
intermodal shipping containers.
74 Armored vehicle. Includes armored cars and military vehicles. Excludes armored
aircraft and ships.
75 Manned, unmanned space vehicles. Includes rockets and missiles.
76 Aerial tramway vehicle.
00 Mobile property, other.
NN No mobile property.

The denotes a required field. 10–20 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Wildland Fire Module - G

SECTION G G

G Equipment Involved in Ignition

Definition
The piece of equipment that provided the principal heat source to cause the ignition if the
equipment malfunctioned or was used improperly.

Purpose
Analysis of the equipment involved in ignition is useful for improving product safety and pre-
ventive maintenance. It is just as important to know the kind of equipment that was used
improperly as it is to know the kind of equipment that malfunctioned. Misuse can be the direct
result of the way the equipment is designed and constructed. When involved in ignition,
equipment information provides an important part of the causal data. Equipment involved in
ignition can be compared to other casual data to determine if the equipment was (or was not)
operating properly.

Entry
Enter the three-digit code and description that best describes the equipment involved in igni-
tion. If no equipment was involved in ignition, check or mark the None box.

Example
The fire was started by an overturned hibachi grill (643):
Equipment Involved in None
G Ignition
6 4 3 Hibachi grill

. An alphabetized synonym list for the following Equipment Involved in Ignition codes is
presented in Appendix B.

EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IN IGNITION CODES

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

111 Air conditioner.
112 Heat pump.
113 Fan.
114 Humidifier, non-heat producing. Excludes heaters with built-in humidifiers (131,
132).
115 Ionizer.
116 Dehumidifier, portable.
117 Evaporative cooler, cooling tower.
121 Fireplace, masonry.
122 Fireplace, factory-built.
123 Fireplace, insert/stove.
124 Stove, heating.
125 Chimney connector, vent connector.
126 Chimney: brick, stone, masonry.

The denotes a required field. 10–21 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Wildland Fire Module - G

127 Chimney: metal. Includes stovepipes and flues.

120 Fireplace, chimney, other.
131 Furnace, local heating unit, built-in. Includes built-in humidifiers. Excludes process
furnaces, kilns (353).
132 Furnace, central heating unit. Includes built-in humidifiers. Excludes process
furnaces, kilns. (353)
133 Boiler (power, process, heating).
141 Heater. Includes floor furnaces, wall heaters, and baseboard heaters. Excludes
catalytic heaters (142), oil-filled heaters (143), hot water heaters (152).
142 Heater, catalytic.
143 Heater, oil-filled. Excludes kerosene heaters (141).
144 Heat lamp.
145 Heat tape.
151 Water heater. Includes sink-mounted instant hot water heaters and waterbed
heaters.
152 Steam line, heat pipe, hot air duct. Includes radiators and hot water baseboard
heaters.
100 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, other.

Electrical Distribution, Lighting, and Power Transfer

211 Electrical power (utility) line. Excludes wires from the utility pole to the structure.
212 Electrical service supply wires; wires from utility pole to meter box.
213 Electric meter, meter box.
214 Electrical wiring from meter box to circuit breaker board, fuse box, or panel board.
215 Panel board (fuse); switchboard, circuit breaker board with or without ground-fault
interrupter
216 Electrical branch circuit. Includes armored (metallic) cable, nonmetallic sheathing, or
wire in conduit.
217 Outlet, receptacle. Includes wall-type receptacles, electric dryer and stove
receptacles.
218 Wall-type switch. Includes light switches.
219 Ground-fault interrupter (GFI), portable, plug-in.
210 Electrical wiring, other.
221 Transformer, distribution-type.
222 Overcurrent, disconnect equipment. Excludes panel boards.
223 Transformer, low-voltage (not more than 50 volts).
224 Generator.
225 Inverter.
226 Uninterrupted power supply (UPS).
227 Surge protector.
228 Battery charger, rectifier.
229 Battery. Includes all battery types.
231 Lamp: tabletop, floor, desk. Excludes halogen fixtures (235) and light bulbs (238).
232 Lantern, flashlight.
233 Incandescent lighting fixture.
234 Fluorescent lighting fixture, ballast.
235 Halogen lighting fixture or lamp.
236 Sodium, mercury vapor lighting fixture or lamp.
237 Portable or movable work light, trouble light.
238 Light bulb.
230 Lamp, lighting, other.
241 Night light.
242 Decorative lights, line voltage. Includes holiday lighting, Christmas lights.
243 Decorative or landscape lighting, low voltage.
244 Sign. Includes neon signs.

The denotes a required field. 10–22 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Wildland Fire Module - G

251 Fence, electric.

252 Traffic control device
253 Lightning rod, arrester/grounding device.
261 Power cord, plug; detachable from appliance.
262 Power cord, plug; permanently attached to appliance.
263 Extension cord.
260 Cord, plug, other.
200 Electrical distribution, lighting, and power transfer, other.

Shop Tools and Industrial Equipment

311 Power saw.
312 Power lathe.
313 Power shaper, router, jointer, planer.
314 Power cutting tool.
315 Power drill, screwdriver.
316 Power sander, grinder, buffer, polisher.
317 Power hammer, jackhammer.
318 Power nail gun, stud driver, stapler.
310 Power tools, other.
321 Paint dipper.
322 Paint flow coating machine.
323 Paint mixing machine.
324 Paint sprayer.
325 Coating machine. Includes asphalt-saturating and rubber-spreading machines.
320 Painting tools, other.
331 Welding torch. Excludes cutting torches (332).
332 Cutting torch. Excludes welding torches (331).
333 Burners. Includes Bunsen burners, plumber furnaces, and blowtorches. Excludes
weed burners (523).
334 Soldering equipment.
341 Air compressor.
342 Gas compressor.
343 Atomizing equipment. Excludes paint spraying equipment (324).
344 Pump. Excludes pumps integrated with other types of equipment.
345 Wet/dry vacuum (shop vacuum).
346 Hoist, lift, crane.
347 Powered jacking equipment. Includes hydraulic rescue tools.
348 Drilling machinery or equipment. Includes water or gas drilling equipment.
340 Hydraulic equipment, other.
351 Heat-treating equipment.
352 Incinerator.
353 Industrial furnace, oven, kiln. Excludes ovens for cooking (646).
354 Tarpot, tar kettle.
355 Casting, molding, forging equipment.
356 Distilling equipment.
357 Digester, reactor.
358 Extractor, waste recovery machine. Includes solvent extractors such as used in dry-
cleaning operations and garnetting equipment.
361 Conveyor. Excludes agricultural conveyors (513).
362 Power transfer equipment: ropes, cables, blocks, belts.
363 Power takeoff.
364 Powered valves.
365 Bearing or brake.
371 Picking, carding, weaving machine. Includes cotton gins.

The denotes a required field. 10–23 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Wildland Fire Module - G

372 Testing equipment.

373 Gas regulator. Includes propane, butane, LP, or natural gas regulators and flexible
hose connectors to gas appliances.
374 Motor, separate. Includes bench motors. Excludes internal combustion motors
(375).
375 Internal combustion engine (nonvehicular).
376 Printing press.
377 Car washing equipment.
300 Shop tools and industrial equipment, other.

Commercial and Medical Equipment

411 Dental, medical, or other powered bed or chair. Includes powered wheelchairs.
412 Dental equipment, other.
413 Dialysis equipment.
414 Medical imaging equipment. Includes MRI, CAT scan, and ultrasound.
415 Medical monitoring equipment.
416 Oxygen administration equipment.
417 Radiological equipment, x-ray, radiation therapy.
418 Sterilizer, medical.
419 Therapeutic equipment.
410 Medical equipment, other.
421 Transmitter.
422 Telephone switching gear, including PBX.
423 TV monitor array. Includes control panels with multiple TV monitors and security
monitoring stations. Excludes single TV monitor configurations (753).
424 Studio-type TV camera. Includes professional studio television cameras. Excludes
home camcorders and video equipment (756).
425 Studio-type sound recording/modulating equipment.
426 Radar equipment.
431 Amusement ride equipment.
432 Ski lift.
433 Elevator or lift.
434 Escalator.
441 Microfilm, microfiche viewing equipment.
442 Photo processing equipment. Includes microfilm processing equipment.
443 Vending machine.
444 Nonvideo arcade game. Includes pinball machines and the like. Excludes electronic
video games (755).
445 Water fountain, water cooler.
446 Telescope. Includes radio telescopes.
451 Electron microscope.
450 Laboratory equipment, other.
400 Commercial and medical equipment, other.

Garden Tools and Agricultural Equipment

511 Combine, threshing machine.
512 Hay processing equipment.
513 Farm elevator or conveyor.
514 Silo loader, unloader, screw/sweep auger.
515 Feed grinder, mixer, blender.
516 Milking machine.
517 Pasteurizer. Includes milk pasteurizers.
518 Cream separator.
521 Sprayer, farm or garden.
522 Chain saw.

The denotes a required field. 10–24 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Wildland Fire Module - G

523 Weed burner.

524 Lawn mower.
525 Lawn, landscape trimmer, edger.
531 Lawn vacuum.
532 Leaf blower.
533 Mulcher, grinder, chipper. Includes leaf mulchers.
534 Snow blower, thrower.
535 Log splitter.
536 Post hole auger.
537 Post driver, pile driver.
538 Tiller, cultivator.
500 Garden tools and agricultural equipment, other.

Kitchen and Cooking Equipment

611 Blender, juicer, food processor, mixer.
612 Coffee grinder.
621 Can opener.
622 Knife.
623 Knife sharpener.
631 Coffee maker or teapot.
632 Food warmer, hot plate.
633 Kettle.
634 Popcorn popper.
635 Pressure cooker or canner.
636 Slow cooker.
637 Toaster, toaster oven, countertop broiler.
638 Waffle iron, griddle.
639 Wok, frying pan, skillet.
641 Bread-making machine.
642 Deep fryer.
643 Grill, hibachi, barbecue.
644 Microwave oven.
645 Oven, rotisserie.
646 Range with or without an oven or cooking surface. Includes counter-mounted
stoves.
647 Steam table, warming drawer/table.
651 Dishwasher.
652 Freezer when separate from refrigerator.
653 Garbage disposer.
654 Grease hood/duct exhaust fan.
655 Ice maker (separate from refrigerator).
656 Refrigerator, refrigerator/freezer.
600 Kitchen and cooking equipment, other.

Electronic and Other Electrical Equipment

711 Computer. Includes devices such as hard drives and modems installed inside the
computer casing. Excludes external storage devices (712).
712 Computer storage device, external. Includes CD-ROM devices, tape drives, and
disk drives. Excludes such devices when they are installed within a computer (711).
713 Computer modem, external. Includes digital, ISDN modems, cable modems, and
modem racks. Excludes modems installed within a computer (711).
714 Computer monitor. Includes LCD or flat-screen monitors.
715 Computer printer. Includes multifunctional devices such as copier, fax, and scanner.
716 Computer projection device, LCD panel, projector.
710 Computer device, other.

The denotes a required field. 10–25 NFIRS 5.0 COMPLETE REFERENCE GUIDE
 G Wildland Fire Module - G

721 Adding machine, calculator.

722 Telephone or answering machine.
723 Cash register.
724 Copier. Includes large standalone copiers. Excludes small copiers and
multifunctional devices (715).
725 Fax machine.
726 Paper shredder.
727 Postage, shipping meter equipment.
728 Typewriter.
720 Office equipment, other.
731 Guitar.
732 Piano, organ. Includes player pianos. Excludes synthesizers and musical keyboards
(733).
733 Musical synthesizer or keyboard. Excludes pianos, organs (732).
730 Musical instrument, other.
741 CD player (audio). Excludes computer CD, DVD players (712).
742 Laser disk player. Includes DVD players and recorders.
743 Radio. Excludes two-way radios (744).
744 Radio, two-way.
745 Record player, phonograph, turntable.
747 Speakers, audio; separate components.
748 Stereo equipment. Includes receivers, amplifiers, equalizers. Excludes speakers
(747).
749 Tape recorder or player.
740 Sound recording or receiving e