Terms of Use

1. Purpose and Scope

This dataset is derived from the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS). The reporting fire departments themselves are the owners of their own data. UL Research Institutes' Fire Safety Research Institute maintains and publishes this dataset as the federal contract performer supporting USFA.

The dataset is provided for public benefit, including emergency-planning activities, public-safety analysis, research, and community information uses.

Use of this dataset does not grant broader rights to access, use, or modify the NERIS platform or services governed by the full NERIS Terms of Use.

2. Acceptable Use

Users may access and use this dataset for:

• Emergency management and public safety planning
• Research and statistical analysis
• Educational and training purposes
• Community-risk assessment and resource planning
• Integration into GIS platforms for authorized purposes
• Development of maps, applications, and visualizations for public benefit

Use of this dataset may not be represented or implied as endorsement by USFA, DHS, FEMA, UL Research Institutes' Fire Safety Research Institute, or any other federal entity.

Use of the dataset remains subject to the NERIS Terms of Use, including all restrictions on automated access, misuse, and prohibited conduct.

3. Updates and Revisions

• The dataset is updated as participating fire departments submit verified changes through NERIS.
• Update frequency is not guaranteed. Publication is intended to be daily but may vary without notice.
• The most recent update timestamp appears within the dataset attribute tables.
• UL Research Institutes' Fire Safety Research Institute and USFA may modify the dataset structure, fields, content, or publication schedule at any time.
• No rights are granted to receive updates on any defined cadence.

4. Privacy and Security

• Users may not attempt to infer, derive, or reconstruct confidential or restricted information from the dataset.
• Users remain bound by all applicable privacy and security provisions of the NERIS Terms of Use.

5. Disclaimers and Limitations

No Warranty

The dataset is provided “as is” and “as available.”

UL Research Institutes' Fire Safety Research Institute, and USFA make no representations or warranties—express or implied—regarding:

• accuracy, completeness, or reliability
• suitability for any particular purpose
• continuous or error-free availability
• the quality or performance of any downstream products, analyses, or services using this dataset.

No Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, UL Research Institutes' Fire Safety Research Institute, USFA, and their employees, contractors, and affiliates shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from or related to:

• use of or reliance on this dataset
• errors, omissions, or inaccuracies
• delays, interruptions, or failures in data availability
• downstream analyses, products, decisions, or operational outcomes influenced by the dataset

No Duty to Update

UL Research Institutes' Fire Safety Research Institute and USFA assume no legal duty to:

• update the dataset on any specific schedule
• correct errors
• support downstream uses
• ensure compatibility with third-party tools or systems

User Responsibility

Users bear all responsibility for:

• validating accuracy
• determining fitness for purpose
• ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and local operational requirements

6. Relationship to the Full NERIS Terms of Use

Accessing or using this dataset constitutes agreement to both:

1. these dataset-specific terms, and
2. the full NERIS Terms of Use at: https://neris.fsri.org/terms-of-use

Where inconsistencies exist, the full NERIS Terms of Use govern.

Use of the dataset does not modify, expand, or waive any obligations under the full NERIS Terms.