Incident reports are considered public records due to which legislation?

Incident reports are considered public records primarily due to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This legislation establishes the right of the public to access records from any federal agency, promoting transparency and accountability within government operations. Under FOIA, certain information, including incident reports generated by fire and other emergency services, is typically available to the public unless it is exempted for reasons such as national security or personal privacy.

This act plays a crucial role in ensuring that citizens can obtain information that is vital for public awareness and safety, thereby supporting the principles of an open and democratic society. In the context of firefighting and emergency services, the availability of incident reports helps inform the public about local safety issues, departmental responses, and operational performance.