Virginia counties should be aware of an upcoming change tied to the Commonwealth’s Aid to Localities (ATL) Program for fire services funding. Beginning July 1, 2026, localities must ensure that fire departments receiving ATL funding are reporting emergency incidents through the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) to remain eligible for funding.
A letter from Executive Director Brad Creasy of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) to county administrators, city managers, and town managers outlines the new requirements and available transition assistance. As previously reported, the requirement stems from legislation adopted by the General Assembly in 2025 directing the Virginia Fire Services Board to establish a reporting policy tied to ATL eligibility. The Board formally adopted the policy in December 2025, with implementation taking effect July 1, 2026.
NERIS replaces the legacy National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and is intended to provide a more modern, cloud-based incident reporting platform with expanded analytics and interoperability capabilities. Unlike NFIRS, participation in NERIS reporting is mandatory under the new Virginia policy for departments receiving ATL support.
Under the adopted policy, the Department of Fire Programs will issue compliance reports each June and December identifying fire departments not reporting to NERIS. Localities may continue receiving ATL funds if they withhold allocations from non-compliant departments. However, localities that distribute ATL funds to departments identified as non-compliant risk forfeiting the affected funding.
The adopted Aid to Localities policy further clarifies that all localities must ensure fire departments receiving ATL funds report incidents through NERIS while sharing that data with the Department of Fire Programs.
To assist with implementation, the Virginia Fire Services Board also approved updates to the Fire Incident Reporting Grant Program. Beginning May 1, 2026, departments may apply for grants of up to $10,000 per department to support compliance efforts. Eligible uses include reporting hardware, initial software purchases or upgrades, internet connectivity costs, and other board-approved reporting needs.
The Department of Fire Programs strongly encourages localities to ensure their fire departments are reporting incidents in NERIS by July 1, 2026. VACo encourages counties to coordinate with local fire departments and emergency services personnel to ensure compliance ahead of the July 1 implementation date.
VACo Contact: Jeremy R. Bennett