Support Information

The FIREHOUSE Software version 7.5 maintenance release has been produced in multiple sub-versions to accommodate enhancements and resolutions introduced over the past months. It is a full update of the program and database. This update addresses all NFIRS code enhancements implemented January 1st, 2009, most notably the canceled en-route time validation and Fire Spread in association with the Object of Origin for the Structure Fire section of a fire report. Design documentation for the 2009 Specification Cycle, including specification changes and corrections, is available at http://www.nfirs.fema.gov/documentation/design/.

Additional install components are available with the CD for many states implementing the NHTSA v2.2 (NEMSIS) code set. The components are also available on each state’s specific FH web page.

Release Notes listing new enhancement changes and defect resolutions are available for the different 7.5 versions.

• FH 7.5.30
• FH 7.5.50
• FH 7.5.59
• FH 7.5.61

An issue has been reported with FH Standard version 7.5.30 and 7.5.50. The FIREHOUSE Software Backup Utility program will no longer run as an automated task when running FH Standard v 7.5.30. At this time, it has only been reported as affecting FH Standard. There have been no reports of this occurring with the FH Enterprise or FH Web editions of the software. This issue has been resolved with FH updates 7.5.59 and above. Contact FH Technical Support for the update if one has not been provided already.

Departments receiving validation errors returned to them by their state reporting agency specifically for units cancelled enroute having invalid times should apply the update to FH version 7.5 shipped to them recently, or if the department does not have a valid support contract to receive an update, they should install the Cancelled Unit System Rule to apply a temporary rule in FIREHOUSE Software.

The .FHz file will install a system rule and a special browsing query. The rule will make the Unit Actions Taken code 93 required for units cancelled enroute. The browsing query, titled ‘Incidents With Cancelled Units Without Action 93’, is designed to display incident reports needing to be edited before submitting the incidents to your state. The query can be run from the Incident module. Select the Browse button for the query window to appear. Select the drop down arrow to locate the query. Incident records displayed by the query should be opened and edited with the required unit actions taken code 93 on the appropriate units.

Departments using FH CAD Monitor to automatically populate responding unit records should update to FH CAD Monitor version 5.1. Contact FH Technical Support for the update if one has not been provided already

Preliminary testing of FIREHOUSE Software with both Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 were successful. Installations and database attachments have been performed successfully. Detailed testing is ongoing at this time. New information will be posted here as results return from testing.

The FIREHOUSE Software version 7.3 maintenance release is available now. It is a full update of the program and database, containing changes addressing issues reported by clients since the release of FH 7.0. Most importantly, this update addresses all NFIRS code enhancements implemented January 1st, 2008. The USFA has provided a NFIRS 5.0 Design Documentation Changes table with the details related to the latest code changes. Additional install components are available with the CD for some states implementing the new NHTSA v2 (NEMSIS) code set. No new features have been included in this version requiring special training.

In conjunction with webex.com, FIREHOUSE Software has created some pre-recorded instructional webcasts providing detailed steps for resolving some of the most frequently asked questions by clients to the FH technical support team. The webcasts are available for viewing here, and from our Downloads section.

Microsoft Security Advisory (935964) published April 12, 2007 advises users of a vulnerability allowing remote code execution through the default MS SQL server port 1433. Through this port, attackers are attempting to use a combination of user names and passwords to access the computer remotely. One of the reported combinations is the default user name and password for the FH installation of SQL Server included with FH Enterprise Edition. We strongly recommend changing all SQL passwords to a more complex password with an alpha-numeric combination.

FH Enterprise clients using SQL Server 2000 or 2005 should contact their SQL administrator for possible actions if necessary. For MSDE users to change the password, first you must be using an SQL administrator user account in the FH Remote Connection Configuration. Then, run FHENT.exe from the FIREHOUSE Software directory of the computer designated as the server. Under Security, highlight the user account to edit and select the Properties button. Edit and confirm a new password. Press Ok. Close Enterprise Database Administrator. Now, the new password needs to be applied to the Remote Connection Configuration for any workstations using the administrator user account and password. At appropriate workstations, run FHODBC.exe located in the FIREHOUSE Software directory. Change the settings as needed on the Login tab.

The installation and operational tests on Windows Vista Business have been successful. Click here for suggestions and tips for FH with Windows Vista.

Many departments have noticed the change in FIREHOUSE Software 7 with time fields turning a shade of purple when the incident/EMS record rolls over past midnight. On save, the validation window appears, with Informational prompts about the specific time fields. The informational prompts are to make the user aware the date associated to the time differs from the alarm date. The validation window will allow users to select ‘Ignore All’ and save the record as a Completed incident. This new functionality has caused some confusion for users.

One of the changes introduced in FH version 7 was the ‘merging’ of many date fields with time fields. This merge was done for several reasons. It reduced the number of visible fields on the tabs. Checkboxes for ‘same as alarm date’ were removed. It reduced the number of fields the report author needed to populate, by automatically entering in the date. When an incident record would roll beyond Midnight, the next day’s date was automatically assumed. We hope these changes will benefit users in the long run as they experience the new change.

Product support for all versions of FIREHOUSE Software 5 was discontinued June 30, 2007. Clients with active support contracts have been provided software updates to at least FH version 7. For departments still running version 5, detailed version FH5 to FH7 update instructions are available to guide you through the updating process. If your department has an active support contract but has not received an update to FH 7, please contact FH Technical Support to have an update distributed to you. When you contact Technical Support, please have your existing version 5 available so we can ensure all necessary items are included in your update packet. If your department does not have an active support contract, or you are unsure of its status, please contact your department's sales representative about renewing your support contract.

When the FH support technician contacts you, they may request to assist you via a live web conference. You will need to use Internet Explorer and may be prompted to download and install files to conduct this conference. Link to remote support assistance. The remote support assistance link will only connect to a live session when a support technician sets up a session for you.

Clients have reported problems using FH Onsite Inspections on Pocket PC devices running the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. Unfortunately, the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system has dropped support of the database transfer protocol we were using to transfer your FH records to FH Onsite Inspections. There is no easy way to make FH Onsite Inspections work on the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system.

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