What does the National Fire Incident Reporting System use for run codes?

The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) utilizes standardized codes for run codes, which allows for consistent data collection and analysis across various fire departments throughout the United States. These standardized codes are essential for categorizing different types of incidents, ensuring that data is comparable and can be effectively aggregated for national statistics on fire incidents.

Using standardized codes helps eliminate confusion that might arise from the use of custom or unique codes created by different departments, facilitating better communication and data sharing. This consistency enhances the accuracy of reporting and contributes significantly to research, policy-making, and resource allocation in the fire service.

In contrast, custom codes, color codes, and numeric identifiers, while potentially useful in other contexts, do not provide the same level of uniformity and standardization required for a national-level reporting system like NFIRS. Therefore, the reliance on standardized codes is crucial for maintaining integrity in incident reporting.