01What a fire RMS does
A fire records management system — a fire RMS — is where a department keeps its official record: incident reports, federal reporting, personnel, apparatus, inspections, preplans and training. It's what the chief pulls from for the monthly report, the budget hearing and the ISO review.
The federal reporting piece is changing. NFIRS is being replaced by NERIS, and a fire RMS now has to file to NERIS directly. If you're shopping for a fire RMS today, NERIS should be at the top of your list — see NERIS reporting for what that involves.
02Fire RMS vs fire department software
A traditional RMS records what happened after the call. Fire department software can also help run the call while it's happening — dispatch, incident command, crew accountability, mutual aid — and then turn that same record into the report.
The difference matters most at the end of a shift. When the record and the command board are separate systems, someone types the incident twice. When they're one system, the board becomes the record.
03Fire RMS comparison checklist
Use these questions with every vendor you're comparing. The right column is how PiranCommand answers them, so you have one set of answers to start from.
| Compare | What to ask | PiranCommand |
|---|---|---|
| NERIS | Are you on FSRI's NERIS Integration Partners list? | Yes — NERIS V1 Compatible. Check the list. |
| Report preview | Can officers see the exact report, with errors and warnings, before it's filed? | Yes. Missing required data blocks the filing; warnings don't. |
| Re-typing | Does the report come from the run, or from re-entering the call? | From the run. Unit times, assignments and benchmarks carry into the report. |
| CAD | Do we have to change our CAD? | No. Dispatches come in from any CAD, and your call types map to NERIS incident types. |
| Incident command | Does it help run the fireground, or only record it? | Both: command board, assignments and PAR, with MAYDAY handling. |
| Mutual aid | Can neighboring departments see the same incident? | Yes — a shared board across departments on the same call. |
| Pricing | Is it priced per department or per user? | Per department, with unlimited personnel. No per-firefighter charge. |
| EMS and HIPAA | Will you sign a business associate agreement? | Yes. |
| Your data | What happens to our records if we leave? | They're returned or deleted as your agreement provides. |
04Questions to ask in a demo
- Use one of our calls. Ask the vendor to run a recent incident of yours from dispatch to the finished report — not their scripted demo call.
- Show us the NERIS report. Ask to see the report exactly as it would be sent, and what happens when something required is missing.
- Who does the setup? Ask how your roster, apparatus, stations and run cards get into the system, and how long that takes.
- What does the officer do at 3 a.m.? Count the screens between "back in service" and "report done."
- How is it priced as we grow? Ask what changes if you add members, stations or apparatus.
05Common questions
What is the best fire RMS?
The one that fits how your department runs calls and files reports. Compare vendors on NERIS, re-typing, CAD, pricing model and how you get your data back — the checklist above covers each one.
What's the difference between a fire RMS and fire department software?
A fire RMS keeps the department's records and federal reporting. Fire department software can also run the incident live — dispatch, command, accountability and mutual aid — and produce the record from it.
Does a fire RMS have to support NERIS?
NERIS replaces NFIRS, so a fire RMS needs to file to NERIS. Look for the vendor on FSRI's NERIS Integration Partners list.
How is PiranCommand priced?
Per department, with unlimited personnel — there is no per-firefighter charge. Request a demo for a quote.
Run one of your own calls through PiranCommand. Request a demo or email hello@pirancommand.com.