According to Public Act 207 of 1941, Section 29.1c (2c), the Bureau of Fire Services shall participate in the national fire incident reporting system (NFIRS). The national reporting system has been designed as a tool for fire departments (FD) to report and maintain computerized records of fires and other FD incidents in a uniformed manner. Section 29.4 and 29.5g of Public Act 207 of 1941requires the chief of each organized fire department, or the clerk of each city, village, or township that does not have an organized fire department, immediately after the occurrence of fire within the official's jurisdiction resulting in loss of life or property, shall make and file with the bureau a complete fire incident report of the fire. The report shall be made on and according to forms supplied by the bureau (BFS).The Bureau of Fire Services serves as the State Program Manager of the NFIRS 5.0 program for the United States Fire Administration (USFA). NFIRS 5.0 was developed by the United States Fire Administration (USFA) in partnership with National Fire Information Council (NFIC). The BFS maintains and manages Michigan’s fire data and ensures that it is entered into the national reporting system. Through the provision of this automated reporting system, the state fire marshal, the Bureau of Fire Services, and local fire departments are able to ensure accurate data and documentation of fire department activities.
Additional information on NFIRS 5.0 can be found by visiting http://www.nfirs.fema.gov/. Third party software must be certified by the USFA. For a list vendor certification, information please visit www.nfirs.fema.gov/vendors/.
