93-498), which authorizes the USFA to gather and analyze information on the magnitude of the Nation's fire problem, as well as its detailed characteristics and trends.
To meet these objectives, the USFA has developed a standard NFIRS package that includes incident and casualty forms, a coding structure for data processing purposes, manuals, computer software and procedures, documentation and a National Fire Academy training course for utilizing the system.
They forward the completed incidents via paper forms, computer media or the Internet to their state office where the data is validated and consolidated into a single computerized database.
The success of NFIRS is due in part to the unique cooperative effort between USFA and the National Fire Information Council (NFIC).
NFIC's unique partnership of Federal, state and local participants has proven to be one of the most successful, productive and cost-beneficial programs ever attempted on a national level.