The Alaska National Fire Incident Reporting System (ANFIRS) objective is to help Alaska develop fire reporting and analysis capability for our own use and to obtain data that can be used to more accurately assess and subsequently combat the fire problem at the state level. After we compile the data from Alaska fire departments, we forward it to the United States Fire Administration (USFA) where they gather and analyze information on the magnitude of the Nation’s fire problem, as well as its detailed characteristics and trends.

There are many objectives of ANFIRS. The information provides data that is utilized in the development of methods of reducing deaths and injuries, as well as loss of personal property. It provides a tool for comparing areas within the state and across states throughout the United States.

Although paperwork may seem to have little to do with fire protection, firefighters who carefully document the causes of fires and the make, model, and serial numbers of products involved in fires help identify how similar fires can be prevented in the future.

With the implementation of the Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS 5.0) in 2000, the Division of Fire and Life Safety upgraded its reporting system to meet this standard, which is designed to be a computer-based reporting system.

Departments must report all fire and/or fire-related incidents to the Division monthly. The reports are due by the 10th of every month for the previous month reports per 13 AAC 52.020. Departments not reporting as required may lose their registration status.

If a department had no fires in the previous month, the department must notify Marie Collins by email or phone. If able, sending an email is the best way for notification as the user will receive an email that our office received the fire department’s ” no activity” report.

There are three ways for departments to report:

1.  Phone: If a department has fewer than 5 fire and/or fire-related incidents per year, you may call 907-269-5625 to get the incident reported.  Marie will ask the required questions that are applicable to the incident, put it into the eNFIRS, and send the department a copy of the incident.
2.  Paper: The Division of Fire and Life Safety submitted NFIRS 5.0 Forms for incident reporting. Once the incident has been completed on paper, please scan and email it to Marie Collins.  The incident will be manually put into eNFIRS.
3.  Electronically: All others must report electronically. The local NFIRS reporting system must comply with the USFA NFIRS 5.0 standard.

The Division publishes statewide Fire in Alaska annually. 

NFIRS 5.0 forms, reference guide and coding questions can be found here:

• NFIRS 5.0 Forms
• Reference Guide
• Coding Questions and Answers Guide (.pdf)

eNFIRS Webware and Training: 

In an effort to assist fire departments, the Division of Fire and Life Safety is allowing the use of USFA eNFIRS; a USFA web-based NFIRS program as of August, 2020. NOTE: Internet connection will be necessary. This will be granted to the fire department and/or fire agencies upon request and is at no cost to the fire department.

• Register as a User If you are unsuccessful at logging in, please email Marie Collins for assistance or call 907-269-5625.
• Overview of Single Sign-On: The Single Sign-on (SSO) is a feature new to eNFIRS, that places all NFIRS tools in one location, requiring just one login.
• Forgot Username and/or Password : This video will guide your through the process to self-manage your username and/or password.
• Creating an Incident: Step-by-step guide on how to create an incident in eNFIRS. 
• Add Module: Step-by-step instructions for adding a module to an existing NFIRS report.
• Downloading Incidents: Instructions for how to use the FBIR to create a portable document format (PDF) file to print a paper copy of an existing NFIRS report.  You can save up to 5 reported incidents at one time.
• User Help: An overview of the resources available to provide help with eNFIRS and general NFIRS questions.

National Fire Incident Reporting System Training Opportunity

Last year, fires killed over 3,000 people, injured more than 15,000, and caused an estimated $11.5 billion in damage. Over a five-year period, the cause of ignition in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) was unknown in almost three out of every five home fire deaths, according to the United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association. Recognizing the reporting gap in NFIRS, the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) has launched a free, online training program for the fire service, “Understand Your Role in Fire Incident Data,” available at NASFM’s training portal at www.nasfm-training.org.

This online course takes approximately one hour. Since the training program is self-guided, it can be easily incorporated into recruit training at a fire station level and used by full-time, call, and volunteer fire departments.