If you run a fire department training program, the next 90 days are going to matter. Between NFPA 1010 taking effect June 1, updated thermal imaging camera training requirements under NFPA 1408, and the launch of NERIS as the replacement for NFIRS, there are several moving pieces that directly affect how departments train, document, and report.
None of these are surprises — they’ve been in development for a while. But we’re hearing from departments across the country that the convergence of all three is creating urgency that wasn’t there six months ago. Here’s what you need to know.
NFPA 1010: The New Consolidated Standard
NFPA 1010 consolidates four existing standards — NFPA 1001, 1002, 1003, and 1005 — into a single document covering professional qualifications for fire service and emergency response personnel. It also introduces a new “Fire Support Person” certification level. ProBoard and IFSAC accreditation agencies must implement the new standard by June 1, 2026.
The core of what NFPA 1010 is driving at is straightforward: agencies need to prove their people are trained, and the training needs to be documented. That means repeatable exercises, measurable outcomes, and a system that can produce records showing who trained, when they trained, and what they trained on.
See also: NFPA 1010 Changes the Game for Gas Detection Training
For departments that are already running structured training programs with proper documentation, this may not require a major overhaul. For departments that have been relying on less formal approaches, June 1 is going to arrive faster than expected.
Thermal Imaging Training: NFPA 1408
This one doesn’t get as much attention as it should. NFPA 1408 (Standard for Training Fire Service Personnel on Thermal Imagers) requires that personnel complete training on thermal imaging cameras before they’re deployed with one in the field. That’s not optional — it’s the standard.
The requirements include annual competency reviews, documented practical evolutions, and both individual and crew-level training exercises. Departments also need to ensure their TIC equipment meets NFPA 1801 standards, which was updated in 2021 and is now a requirement for AFG grant purchases.
If your team uses thermal imaging cameras — and most departments do — ask yourself: is TIC training documented in the same way your hazmat training is? For many departments, the answer is no. That’s a gap worth closing.
NERIS: The New NFIRS Is Here
As of February 1, 2026, the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) officially replaced the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), which had been in use since 1976. NFIRS was sunset on January 31.
NERIS is an all-hazards data system — it supports fires, hazmat responses, EMS calls, and more. It allows departments to log up to three incident types per report, uses a mobile-first interface, and provides near-real-time data reporting. The system is managed by the U.S. Fire Administration.
What this means in practice: the way your department documents incidents and training is changing. The departments that have clean, structured training records are going to have a much easier time feeding accurate data into NERIS. Departments that have been tracking training informally are going to feel the friction.
The Readiness Question
We’ve been having conversations with fire departments across the country over the past several months, and the most common question we hear is some version of: “Are we ready?”
The honest answer depends on a few things. Can your department document every hazmat training exercise from the past 12 months? Can you demonstrate that your personnel trained on the specific scenarios they’re most likely to encounter? Can you produce those records if asked?
If the answer to any of those is uncertain, now is the time to address it — not after the standard takes effect.
Domestic Preparedness Is Getting More Attention
It’s also worth noting that beyond the NFPA timeline, the broader environment around domestic preparedness is seeing increased focus. Federal and state homeland security agencies are reviewing their CBRN training capabilities, and grant funding for first responder preparedness programs remains an active priority. For departments that have been considering upgrades to their training equipment, the funding environment is favorable.
What We’re Seeing Work
At HazSim, we’ve worked with departments of every size — from county-level ESDs with 50 personnel to state homeland security agencies managing statewide programs. The departments that are best positioned for compliance share a few common traits:
- They run structured, repeatable hazmat training exercises on a regular schedule
- They use simulation tools that produce documentation automatically
- They’ve identified a point person (usually the hazmat coordinator or training officer) who owns the compliance process
- They started preparing months before the deadline, not weeks
- They treat thermal imaging training with the same rigor as hazmat — documented, reviewed annually, with practical evolutions
The departments that tend to struggle are the ones that assume their current approach will be “close enough.” NFPA standards have a way of becoming the benchmark that insurance carriers, municipalities, and oversight bodies reference when evaluating readiness. Being on the wrong side of that line creates problems that go beyond compliance.
Next Steps
If your department hasn’t assessed its readiness for NFPA 1010, the simplest thing to do is start with an honest inventory of your current training program. What are you documenting? What gaps exist? What would you need if someone asked to see your records tomorrow?
Not sure where your department stands? We work with fire departments and training programs across the country on NFPA compliance readiness. Schedule a 15-minute readiness call — we’ll walk through what 1010 requires, where the common gaps are, and whether simulation-based training makes sense for your team.
The deadline is June 1. Ninety days goes fast.
— Phil Ambrose, Founder & CEO, HazSim LLC
hazsim.com/contact | [email protected] | 310-997-9030
Sources
- NFPA 1010 — Professional Qualifications for Fire Service Personnel
- ProBoard / IFSAC Implementation Timeline for NFPA 1010
- NFPA 1408 — Training Fire Service Personnel on Thermal Imagers (2020)
- NFPA 1801 — Thermal Imagers for the Fire Service (2021)
- NERIS — U.S. Fire Administration / FEMA
- Alabama Fire College — NFPA 1010 Transition Resources
- Oregon DPSST — NFPA 1010 Implementation Guidance
Related Reading from HazMatNation
How to Avoid Tunnel Vision on Routine Gas Calls — by Glen Boatwright
4 Best Practices for Confined Space Air Monitoring — by Phil Ambrose