Fire Department Directory Data Methodology
How Station Boss sources, validates, maps, updates, and corrects public fire department directory records.
Department records
Department names, NERIS IDs, headquarters addresses, staffing classifications, station records, official websites, logos, and available jurisdiction boundaries originate from the public NERIS department directory. Coverage varies because each department record may contain different fields.
County assignments
Station Boss assigns counties using valid headquarters coordinates, valid station coordinates, and meaningful jurisdiction overlap. County boundaries come from current U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files. A department keeps one canonical page even when it serves multiple counties.
Coordinate validation
Headquarters and station points outside the expected state boundary are rejected from maps and county calculations. Jurisdiction shapes are simplified for web display and checked before being included in downloadable GIS files.
Updates and page dates
The directory is checked on a recurring schedule. A page may show a recent review date after a successful source check, while its sitemap modification date changes only when substantive public data or visible page content changes.
Search indexing
Records must pass a minimum quality threshold before they are included in search sitemaps. Sparse records remain accessible through directory navigation with noindex,follow so useful links can still be followed without presenting a thin result in search.
Corrections and limitations
Directory maps and county relationships are informational and must not be used for dispatch or emergency response. Departments can report incorrect public information using the correction link on their page. Station Boss reviews the supplied source before changing derived directory data.
Primary data sources
Questions about this methodology can be sent to support@stationboss.net. You can also return to the fire department directory.