The fire service gathers statistics in a number of data fields to assist in preventing fires in the future, the following are data fields available in the New Zealand Fire Service Incident database. Not all fields are available for all incidents. In general the Incident, General, Equipment and Response groups are available for all incidents, other groups are available only as relevant. Casualty information relates to fire casualties only, not other emergencies. All fields are available, as applicable, from the beginning of 2001. Information prior to this is available from various start dates. Requests for data should be directed to smsadmin@fire.org.nz.
| Group |
Field Name |
Field Description |
| Incident |
ActionPrior |
The significant actions taken by occupant or passer-by prior to fire service arrival |
| Incident |
ActionTaken |
The main action taken by fire fighters at the incident |
| Incident |
AddressNumber |
Street/road number of incident |
| Incident |
AddressStreet |
Street/road name of incident |
| Incident |
AlarmLevel |
Indicates severity of incident 1 = low, 5 = very high |
| Incident |
AlarmMethod |
The method by which fire services were first alerted about the incident. How call was originated (111, direct alarm, etc.) |
| Incident |
CADNumber |
Incident Number. The unique incident identifier assigned by the dispatch system |
| Incident |
CommonName |
The common place name of the location |
| Incident |
DelayApp1 |
The reason for any delay in arrival of the first arriving fire suppression resource (appliance, helicopter etc) |
| Incident |
DelayInCall |
The reason for any delay in the person calling the fire service, if known |
| Incident |
DistanceTravelled |
The distance travelled to the incident, in kilometres |
| Incident |
ICADEventType |
The initial description of the type of incident which determines the type of fire service response |
| Incident |
IncidentType |
The final classification of the type of Incident |
| Incident |
MapGridE |
The NZMG easting that represents the location to which fire services were responded |
| Incident |
MapGridN |
The NZMG northing that represents the location to which fire services were responded |
| Incident |
PFANumber |
The identifier for the Private Fire Alarm which initiated the emergency call |
| Incident |
RiskClassification |
A deprecated classification of the general risk for the response zone where the incident was located. Prior to 1998 this is the only means of determining fire jurisdiction |
| Incident |
StartDateTime |
The date/time the incident was notified to the fire service dispatch system |
| Incident |
Status |
Status of incident in the database - New / Closed / Incomplete/Industrial Action (never completed because of industrial action) |
| Incident |
StopDateTime |
date/time the incident was closed in the dispatch system |
| Incident |
Suburb |
Suburb location of incident |
| Incident |
Zone |
The Emergency Service Zone used within the dispatch system to determine the nature of the fire service response |
| General |
BuildingOwner |
The owner of the property involved in the incident ( Owner occupied, State owned, Housing New Zealand, Rented, Unknown) |
| General |
CivAssisted |
The number of civilians assisted in the course of the incident.-Defaults to 0 |
| General |
CivEvacuated |
The number of civilians evacuated in the course of the incident.-Defaults to 0 |
| General |
CivExtricated |
The number of civilians extricated during the course of the incident-Defaults to 0 |
| General |
CivRescued |
The number of civilians rescued from the incident - Defaults to 0 |
| General |
GenPropertyUse |
The overall use of the property or complex |
| General |
PersonsTrapped |
Yes/No field to indicate whether any persons were reported to be trapped, at any stage of the incident (regardless of outcome). |
| General |
SpecPropertyUse |
The specific use of the property within a larger property |
| Response |
ArrivalTime |
The arrival date/time for the responding unit |
| Response |
Callsign |
The emergency vehicle radio call sign |
| Response |
DepartedDateTime |
The time/date the emergency unit departed the incident scene |
| Response |
DepartedTime |
The date/time the emergency unit left the incident, as received from the dispatch system |
| Response |
DistrictCode |
The District as defined in under section 26 of the Fire Services Act (1975) in which the New Zealand Fire Service unit is based |
| Response |
EnrouteTime |
The date/time the unit responded to the incident, as received from the dispatch system |
| Response |
StationAlertTime |
The date/time the base station for each responding unit was alerted to the incident by the dispatch system |
| Response |
StationCode |
The identifier of the Station where the responding fire service unit is based |
| Response |
StationType |
The authority under which the station operates, New Zealand Fire Service, NRFA, Defence or Industrial Brigade |
| Response |
StationTypeCode |
Station Type - V = Volunteer, P = Paid, R = Rural, C = Composite, I = Industrial, D = Defence |
| Response |
UnitType |
The type of emergency unit (indicates the type of equipment available on the unit) |
| Equipment |
Equipment |
The items of equipment used to control the incident |
| Equipment |
EquipmentQuantity |
The number or amount of each item of equipment used to control the incident |
| Fire |
AlarmsInvolved |
Yes/No field - was there a smoke alarm, fire detection or automatic-extinguishment system involved in detecting the fire? |
| Fire |
ArrivalCondition |
The condition of the fire on arrival of the first fire appliance at the fireground |
| Fire |
Cause |
The cause of the fire. Use in conjunction with CauseCertaintyPct field |
| Fire |
CauseAge |
The age of the person involved in the Cause of the fire |
| Fire |
CauseCertaintyPcnt |
The degree of confidence that the fire fighter has in the determination of the cause of the incident. High = 1, Medium = 2, Low = 3 |
| Fire |
EquipMake |
The brand / trade name of the item identified in Equipment involved, if known, in free format |
| Fire |
Equipment Involved |
The equipment that provided the heat that started the fire |
| Fire |
EquipModel |
The model of the item identified in Equipment Involved, if known, in free format |
| Fire |
EquipYear |
The year of manufacture of the item identified in Equipment Involved, in free format |
| Fire |
Ethnicity |
The ethnicity of the person involved in the Cause of the fire |
|
Fire
|
Evacuation
|
Type of evacuation carried out and its progress.
|
| Fire |
ExpDistance |
Exposures Only – Distance of the exposed structure from initial fire in unspecified units |
| Fire |
ExpHeatTransfer |
Exposures Only – The primary means by which heat was transferred to the exposed structure |
| Fire |
ExposureNumber |
Signifies this incident was caused by “exposure” to another incident. E.g., a vehicle fire may ignite surrounding vegetation. |
| Fire |
ExpRoofMaterial |
Principal construction material of roof – Exposed structures Only |
| Fire |
ExpSurfMaterial |
Principal construction material of wall cladding – Exposed structures Only |
| Fire |
FireDetectFailure |
The reason for the failure of the smoke alarm, fire detection or automatic-extinguishment system |
| Fire |
FireDetectPerform |
Role the smoke alarm, fire detection or automatic-extinguishment system played in detecting the fire |
| Fire |
FireDetectType |
The type of smoke alarm, fire detection or automatic-extinguishment system installed at the scene |
| Fire |
Gender |
The gender of the person involved in the Cause of the fire (Options are U/M/F) |
| Fire |
HeatSource |
The ignition source of the fire. |
| Fire |
NumSprinkler |
The number of sprinkler heads operated |
| Fire |
Obj1Ignited |
The first object ignited in the fire |
| Fire |
Obj1Material |
The material of which the first item ignited was made |
| Fire |
Origin Location |
The room, space or point of origin of the fire or spill within the specific property |
| Fire |
PctPropertySaved |
Approximate proportion of the property not affected by flame damage |
| Fire |
TermStage |
The stage the fire had reached prior to extinguishment |
| Structure |
AreaFireControl |
The area of the structure in square metres damaged by fire control |
| Structure |
AreaFlame |
The area of the structure in square metres damaged by heat and flame |
| Structure |
AreaSmoke |
The area of the structure in square metres damaged by smoke |
| Structure |
AreaStructure |
The total floor area of the structure in square metres, calculated using formula: Length (m) x Width (m) x Number of Floors in the building, including basements |
| Structure |
AreaWater |
The area of the structure damaged by fire fighting water |
| Structure |
AvenueFlame |
The factor most influencing the 3-dimensional direction of travel of flame |
| Structure |
AvenueSmoke |
The factor most influencing the 3-dimensional direction of travel of smoke |
| Structure |
BuildingAge |
The age of the building, by best estimation |
| Structure |
ConstructionType |
The construction of the main structural frame of the building |
| Structure |
DamageFireControl |
A description of the extent of fire control damage to the structure |
| Structure |
DamageFlame |
A description of the extent of flame damage to the structure |
| Structure |
DamageSmoke |
A description of the extent of smoke damage to the structure |
| Structure |
DamageWater |
A description of the extent of water damage to the structure |
| Structure |
Level of Origin |
The level of origin of the fire eg Ground floor. |
| Structure |
LiningCeiling |
The material used to line the ceiling of the structure |
| Structure |
LiningInternal |
The material used to line the internal walls of the structure |
| Structure |
MaterialMostFlame |
The material generating most flame at the fire |
| Structure |
MaterialMostSmoke |
The material generating most smoke at the fire |
| Structure |
NumFloors |
The number of floors in the building, including basements |
| Structure |
Value Lost |
Approximate value of damage to the structure calculated by quantity survey tables and using specific property use field, expressed in current dollar value terms |
| Vegetation |
AreaGorse |
The area of gorse burnt in the fire in square metres |
| Vegetation |
AreaGrassland |
The area of grassland burnt in the fire in square metres |
| Vegetation |
AreaIndigForest |
The area of native forest burnt in the fire in square metres |
| Vegetation |
AreaPlanForest |
The area of plantation forest burnt in the fire in square metres |
| Vegetation |
AreaScrub |
The area of scrub burnt in the fire in square metres |
| Vegetation |
AreaTotalVeg |
The total area of vegetation burnt - the sum of the areas of individual vegetation types |
| Vegetation |
AreaTussock |
The area of tussock burnt in the fire in square metres |
| Vegetation |
AreaWetland |
The area of wetland burnt in the fire in square metres |
| Vegetation |
FireSeason |
The fire season status assigned by the Rural Fire Authority. |
| Vegetation |
Permitted |
Indicates whether a permit was issued for the initial fire |
| FireWeather |
BUI |
Calculated Build Up Index (BUI) for the nearest weather station - Numerical rating of total amount of fuel available for combustion that combines DMC and DC below |
| FireWeather |
DangerForest |
Calculated index from low to extreme based on daily indices and a standard fuel load for forest |
| FireWeather |
DangerGrassland |
Calculated index from low to extreme based on daily indices and a standard fuel load for grassland of 3.5 tonnes/ha. |
| FireWeather |
DangerScrub |
Calculated index from low to extreme based on daily indices and a standard fuel load for scrub of 20 tonnes/ha |
| FireWeather |
DC |
Calculated Drought Code (DC) for the nearest weather station - Numerical rating of average moisture content of deep, compact, organic layers. Useful indicator of seasonal drought effects on forest fuels, amount of smouldering in deep duff layers & large logs |
| FireWeather |
DMC |
Calculated Duff Moisture Code (DMC) for the nearest weather station – Numerical rating of average moisture content of loosely compacted organic layers of moderate depth. Indicates fuel consumption in moderate duff layers & medium-size woody material |
| FireWeather |
FFMC |
Calculated Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC) for the nearest weather station - A numerical rating of the moisture content of litter and other cured fine fuels. This code is an indicator of the relative ease of ignition and flammability of fine fuel |
| FireWeather |
FWI |
Calculated Fire Weather Index (FWI) for the nearest weather station - Numerical rating of fire intensity that combines ISI and BUI. Suitable as a general index of fire danger throughout forested & rural areas |
| FireWeather |
Humidity |
Fire weather from the nearest weather station relative humidity. The relative humidity observation for the weather station at 12:00 NZST on the day of the incident. |
| FireWeather |
ISI |
Calculated Initial Spread Index (ISI) for the nearest weather station - Numerical rating of expected rate of fire spread. Combines effects of wind & FFMC on rate of spread without the influence of variable quantities of fuel |
| FireWeather |
Rainfall |
The rainfall total (mm) for the previous 24 hours for the nearest weather station at 12:00 NZST on the day of the incident. |
| FireWeather |
Temperature |
The temperature observation (deg C)for the nearest weather station at 12:00 NZST on the day of the incident. |
| FireWeather |
VegStationcode |
The identifier for the nearest weather station for which data is available for the day of the incident |
| FireWeather |
VegWindDirection |
The instantaneous wind direction observation for the nearest weather station at 12:00 NZST on the day of the incident |
| FireWeather |
VegWindSpeed |
The instantaneous wind speed observation (km/hr) for the nearest weather station at 12:00 NZST on the day of the incident |
| Casualty |
AgeApprox |
The approximate age of the person injured in a fire in years |
| Casualty |
Apparent Injury1 |
The most serious apparent injury suffered by the person at a fire |
| Casualty |
Bleeding |
Indicates whether the injured person suffered bleeding or any other leakage of body fluids. Yes/No field |
| Casualty |
CasEthnicity |
The ethnic origin of the fire casualty |
| Casualty |
CasualtyNumber |
The number of fire casualties at any particular fire |
| Casualty |
ConditionPrior |
The state of the victim prior to injury contracted at the fire |
| Casualty |
EscapePrevFactor |
The most significant factor preventing the escape of the victim at a fire |
| Casualty |
Familiarity |
The length of time the victim at a fire was acquainted with the surroundings |
| Casualty |
FFAction |
The type of aid administered by fire fighter to assist the casualty at a fire |
| Casualty |
Gender |
The gender of the injured person Options are Unknown/Male/Female |
| Casualty |
InjuryActivity |
The activity in which the victim at a fire was engaged on becoming injured |
| Casualty |
InjuryCause |
The cause of the injury incurred at a fire |
| Casualty |
InjurySeverity |
Severity of injury ranging from slight to fatal |
| Casualty |
LocationFound |
The location in the room of the victim at a building fire |
| Casualty |
LocationIgnition |
The location of the victim at the time of ignition of the fire |
| Casualty |
RemovalMethod |
The method employed to remove the victim from the fire ground |
| Casualty |
RoomFound |
The room where the victim at a building fire was found |
| Casualty |
VictimAwareness |
The victim’s level of awareness of the fire |
| Hazard |
Contamination |
The type of ecological environments contaminated by a hazardous substance leakage |
| Hazard |
HazDetectFailure |
The reason for the failure of the hazardous substances detectors |
| Hazard |
HazDetectPerform |
The performance of the hazardous substances detector in the room or space where the incident occurred |
| Hazard |
HazDetectType |
The type of hazardous substance detector present |
| Hazard |
LeakCause |
The cause of the leakage of hazardous material |
| Hazard |
PopulationDens |
A coarse indicator of the density of the human population in the area affected by a hazardous substance leak |
| Hazard |
PrimaryAdvice |
The primary source of advice given to fire fighters for hazardous substance incidents |
| Hazard |
PriorActivation |
Activation of detection and control systems in Hazardous substance incidents |
| Hazard |
PriorControl |
Attempts made prior to fire service arrival to control or contain the hazardous substance leakage |
| Hazard |
SecondaryAdvice |
The secondary source of advice given to fire fighters in hazardous chemical incidents |
| Hazard |
SpreadExtent |
The extent of the spread of the hazardous substances incident on arrival |
| Hazard |
WindDirection |
The wind direction at the time of fire service arrival at a hazardous substance incident |
| Hazard |
WindSpeed |
The wind speed at the time of fire service arrival at a hazardous substance incident |
| Chemical |
ChemicalNumber |
The number of chemicals involved in the incident |
| Chemical |
Class |
The Classification number of the chemical substance involved in the incident |
| Chemical |
ContainerLabeled |
Indicates whether the container was labelled |
| Chemical |
DispMethod |
The method used to dispose of the chemical |
| Chemical |
DispOrgResponsible |
The organisation responsible for the disposal of the chemical substance |
| Chemical |
DispPlace |
The place where the chemical substance was disposed of |
| Chemical |
LeakageFrom |
The item from which the chemical substance leaked |
| Chemical |
LeakQuantity |
The quantity of the chemical leakage or spillage – by weight or volume as relevant |
| Chemical |
NumContainers |
The number of containers which were spilled or leaked |
| Chemical |
TradeName |
The name of the chemical substance involved in the incident |
| Chemical |
UNSI |
The United Nations Substance Identification number assigned to the substance involved in the incident. |
| Mobile |
MobileNumber |
The number of mobile properties (vehicles) directly involved in the incident |
| Mobile |
VehicleMake |
Free text description of the make of the mobile property (vehicle) involved in the incident |
| Mobile |
VehicleModel |
Free text description of the model of the mobile property (vehicle) involved in the incident |
| Mobile |
VehicleType |
The type of mobile property (vehicle) involved in the incident |
| Mobile |
VehicleYear |
Free text description of the year of manufacture of the mobile property (vehicle) involved in the incident |