After responding to an incident, a fire department completes the appropriate NFIRS modules. Each module collects a common set of information that describes the nature of the call, the actions firefighters took in response to the call, and the end results, including firefighter and civilian casualties and a property loss estimate.

The fire department submits its all-incident data to the state, tribal or territorial agency responsible for NFIRS data. The agency gathers data from all its participating departments and reports the compiled data to The USFA. The fire department can also submit their data directly to the USFA’s NFIRS National Database through import tools designed specifically for this process.

• Ability to track and manage apparatus, personnel and casualty information, document the full range of department activity, and justify budgets with a summary and statistical data
• Ability to utilize data to focus on current community challenges, predict future issues and measure program performance
• Assist the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to:
• Analyze the severity and reach of the nation's fire problems
• Utilize information to develop national public educational campaigns
• Make recommendations for national codes and standards
• Determine consumer product failures
• Identify the focus for research efforts
• Support federal legislation