Oklahoma City Fire Department Goes Paperless

- The Oklahoma City Fire Department's system was built using Microsoft's Power Apps, Power BI, and SharePoint, digitizing over 15 distinct workflows including apparatus checks, logbooks, and HR processes. This initiative, developed with partner AgreeYa Solutions, resulted in a 40% reduction in manual tasks. - This type of digital transformation reflects a national trend. A 2025 survey of nearly 700 firefighters found that 86% believe technology will impact future recruitment, and 87% said it helped save time in dangerous situations. - A major driver for this shift is the mandatory nationwide transition from the decades-old National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) to the new cloud-based National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) in early 2026. - The new NERIS platform is designed to provide near real-time data from multiple sources, including computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and incident reports, to help departments better analyze risks and manage resources. - For firefighters, this means mobile-first tools are becoming standard for accessing pre-incident plans, hydrant locations, and building layouts en route to a call, improving situational awareness. - While Seattle Fire Department's last major mobile networking system upgrade was announced some time ago, it continues to modernize, with plans to enhance radio encryption for tactical communications in the second quarter of 2026 to better protect patient privacy and operational security. - Seattle Fire also utilizes a "Real-Time 911" web page that provides a public log of active incidents, demonstrating the move toward making operational data more accessible. - The increasing use of technology is also a recruitment factor, with 64% of firefighters in a recent survey stating that it improves their job satisfaction, which is a key consideration for departments looking to attract younger, tech-savvy candidates.