FEMA and OMB
have agreed that the FEMA will engage in efforts over the clearance
period to assess and document the quality of the information from
NFPA and NFIRS and make this more accessible and useable for NFIRS
users. FEMA will report back to OMB on the results of these efforts
and provide this documentation 6 months prior to submitting this
collection for renewal.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2015
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2013
29,970,120
0
20,742,490
13,704,900
0
10,769,720
13,775,849
0
13,310,000
NFIRS provides a mechanism using
standardized reporting methods to collect and analyze fire incident
data at the Federal, State, and local levels. Data analysis helps
local fire departments and States to focus on current problems,
predict future problems in their communities, and measure whether
their programs are working.
PL:
Pub.L. 93 - 498 9 Name of Law: Federal Fire Prevention and
Control Act of 1974
The annual burden hours has
increased by 2,935,180 hours from the previous inventory due to an
increase in participation/usage of NFIRS, a recommendation
stipulated by OMB for previous approvals of NFIRS. Manual usage has
decreased. NFIRS has seen approximately an 85 percent increase in
the number of departments reporting fires between 1999 and 2009
(the last year for which NFIRS data were available at the NFIRS
Representativeness Study submitted with this approval package was
undertaken). In 1999, there were 11,067 departments reporting fires
to NFIRS and in 2009, there were 20,421 departments reporting
fires.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.