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Master Plan

Nashua Fire Rescue, NH

Zoning maps provide permitted use information for each parcel. The following figure shows the general

classes of zoning found in community development planning.

Figure 27. Zoning Map*5

NASHUA
newnampsuire GIS

DUNSTABLE, MA

TYNGSBOROUGH, MA

CITY OF NASHUA - ZONING MAP

REVISED JNUERY 2018

15 Zoning-Map-PDF (nashuanh. gov).

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Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH

Housing

Risk indicators in a community involve property value, occupancy rate, and ownership status of homes in the
community's neighborhoods. Less maintenance and repairs are performed on low valued, vacant, or rental
properties than higher value categories. Owner-occupied homes are maintained more often as owners are
seeking to sustain or improve property values.

The rate of owner-occupied properties in Nashua is much lower than that of New Hampshire and the U.S.
This high number of rental properties carries an increased risk as minor issues and maintenance are not
typically addressed as quickly in rental properties as they are for when the owner is on site.

Figure 28. Owner-Occupied Properties

Housing Units Est. 37,054 638,09 1 138,537,078
Owner-Occupied Rate 54.4% 71.0% 63.8%

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the top five causes of fatal fires, which account
for 90% of fire deaths, are cooking, heating, electrical, intentional, and smoking. These types of fires occur
in all residential types, warranting the need for a foundational fire safety campaign that incorporates
educational information and messages for homeowners and renters alike.

Home heating risk is higher, especially in the colder months, as many homes are heated with natural gas,
propane, or wood stoves, which increases the risk for carbon monoxide poisoning compared to all-electric
homes. Fire safety programs regarding carbon monoxide poisoning prevention and the use of a carbon
monoxide alarm would benefit Nashua residents.

Reducing fire fatalities and injuries in the home should be the main goal of any fire prevention campaign.
Statistics show that smoke alarms improve human survivability in residential fires by at least 50%. NFPA’s
best practice for smoke alarm replacement is 10 years from the date of manufacture. In addition, emphasis
should be given to homes that were built when there were fewer life safety codes required for smoke alarms,
electrical receptacles, and electrical panels. Incorporating a smoke alarm installation program with a home
fire safety inspection by targeting homes that are 10 years or older can substantially reduce the risk from fire
and fire-related hazards. The following figure shows that most of the homes in Nashua were built before 1990
and are now more than 30 years old.

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Figure 29. Housing, Year Built

Housing: Year Built

20% |
10% <<
0%

<1939 1950-59 1970-79 1990-99 2013-2017

An important indicator of risk in the community involves property value, occupancy rate, and ownership
status of homes in a community's neighborhoods. Often, homes with less value, vacant houses, and rental
properties are maintained and repaired less often than those in higher-value categories. More than 60% of
the homes in Nashua are valued between $250,000 and $400,000.

Figure 30. Home Values

Home Value

20%
10%
0 0%

<$50,000 $150,000 $250,000 $400,000 $750,000 $1,000,000+

There is little developable land in Nashua that remains undeveloped. It constitutes approximately 100 acres
and is currently zoned for R-40.

There is a massive housing demand occurring in the city. An estimated 0.6% of housing units are vacant. The
City is planning for this by rezoning certain areas. There are two parcels in the city that are designated as
Transit Oriented Development (TOD). These zones are in the vicinity of the two proposed commuter rail
stations. The Crown Street TOD is approximately 234 acres and the Daniel Webster TOD is approximately
565 acres. These areas have been up-zoned from industrial to high density housing, and the infrastructure is
already in place. The City of Nashua is estimating that there could be a 5% increase in population from 2020-

30.

The City of Nashua is actively pursuing and achieving more conservation easements. Currently, there are
1,292.2 acres of conservation easements. This represents 6.3% of Nashua’s land area. 82.2 % of this land has
been obtained since 2000.

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Hazardous Substances and Processes

As of 1986, businesses that possess or maintain hazardous chemicals that exceed thresholds established by
the Emergency Planning Community Right-to-Know Act are required to complete a Tier Il Hazardous
Chemical Inventory Report. These occupancies are required by the Environmental Protection Agency to
submit annually Tier Il reports to local fire departments, Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC), and
State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) so that these agencies can plan for the response and
mitigation of any potential spills or accidents. Additionally, the reporting facilities’ designated emergency
point of contact is also required as part of the submission.

The release of hazardous materials can occur throughout the community, either during transport or while in
production, use, packaging, or storage in a fixed facility. These locations can create a dangerous environment
for the community and first responders during a spill or fire. Special equipment such as protective clothing
and sensors, along with specialized training, are necessary to mitigate a hazardous materials incident
successfully.

Hazardous materials are part of everyday life in manufacturing and industrial processes. When they leave
their container or react with other chemicals or compounds, hazardous materials become a problem for
humans and the environment. Nashua Fire Rescue is the agency of first resort for hazardous materials
emergency incidents; the Souhegan Mutual Aid Response Team responds to hazardous materials incidents
as a part of a joint Hazardous Materials Team and response plan.

The Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act, found in Title Ill of the Federal Code (SARA Title Ill),
defines requirements for the tracking of extremely hazardous substances (EHS) used in fixed facilities and
establishes requirements for emergency response planning. The Department has developed response plans
for specific high-risk target hazards and hazardous materials locations. Additionally, the Department has
assigned the shift Deputy Chief the responsibility of being involved with the Local Emergency Planning
Committee (LEPC) in place at the local level. The LEPC is charged with the responsibility to identify and
collect information on the use of hazardous materials by private and public entities. Information collected
includes the type of material, quantity, and location at each site. Additionally, the LEPC is charged with
ensuring local response plans are adequate based on potential risk.

Ferrell Gas trans-loading facility. This is located at the rail yard on the east side of the city. In addition, there
are multiple industrial manufacturers of hazardous materials located throughout Nashua. None of them have
their own fire brigades, and Nashua Fire Rescue is the first responder at these facilities. Facilities of note
include:

= BAE Systems is a leader in research, development, implementation, and maintenance of
commercial, defense, and space electronics. They utilize large amounts of hazardous materials.
BAE Systems is Nashua’s largest employer with 3,200 workers in four locations in the city.

= Harcros Chemicals, Inc. is a distributor and manufacturer of industrial and specialty chemicals. The
company produces surfactants, emulsifiers, defoamers, and other chemicals.

« Worthen Industries is a chemical and technology manufacturer and storage warehouse of
adhesives & coatings, thermoplastic extrusions, and coated substances.

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Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH

Target Hazards

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines target hazards as “facilities in either the public
or private sector that provide essential products and services to the general public, are otherwise necessary
to preserve the welfare and quality of life in the community, or fulfill important public safety, emergency
response, and/or disaster recovery functions.” The NFPA further breaks these down into three risk categories
for occupancies.

= High-Risk Occupancy: An occupancy that has a history of a high frequency of fires, high potential
for loss of life or economic loss, or that has a low or moderate history of fires or loss of life, but the
occupants have a high dependency on the built-in fire protection features or staff to assist in an
evacuation during a fire or other emergency.

= Moderate-Risk Occupancy: An occupancy with a history of a moderate frequency of fires or a
moderate potential for the loss of life or economic loss.

= Low-Risk Occupancy: An occupancy with a history of a low frequency of fires and minimal potential
for life or economic loss.

Critical infrastructure is defined as the assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, that are so
vital to the community that their damage or destruction would have a debilitating effect. Examples of critical
infrastructure or target hazards can include the following:

= Hospitals «= Communications Systems

« Assisted Living Centers « Utilities

= Community Shelters « Emergency Operations Centers
= Schools = Airports

« Hazardous Materials Sites = Important Government Offices
= Roadways » Assembly Occupancies

« Water/Sewage Treatment Facilities = Entertainment Venues

Large buildings, such as warehouses, malls, industrial complexes, and so forth, require larger volumes of
water for firefighting. Additional firefighters are needed to advance hose lines long distances in the building.
Additional safety hose lines and rapid intervention crews (RIC) must be utilized, which also require additional
personnel and water supply capabilities. Large buildings and facilities also create a greater risk for occupants
as search and rescue times are increased in correlation to the number of stories and square footage of the
structure. These structures rely on fire protection systems to extinguish and/or stop the fire from progress
past the area or room of origin. Negative economic impacts follow an emergency incident of this magnitude.

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Target Hazards within the City of Nashua include the following:

Figure 31. Target Hazards

Large Apartment Buildings There are three large apartment buildings built in the
1970s and 80s. Each is 3-4 stories tall and has multiple
buildings (50-60) in each complex. Each of these is a
target hazard with its own set of challenges. Overall,
there are approximately 18,000 units that are in multi-
family structures.
1. Royal Crest Estates
2. Boulder Park
3. The Woodlands
Colleges and Universities There are two universities located in Nashua. Rivier
University has over 2,200 total students enrolled. It is
located on a 68-acre campus and provides housing for
400 students in four residence halls.

Nashua Community College is part of the Community
College system of New Hampshire, and has no
residential housing. The college has over 1,500 students
enrolled, particularly part-time.

Hospitals and Medical Centers St. Joseph Hospital is a full-service health care system
with 208 beds.

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center is a clinical
affiliate of Massachusetts General Hospital with 188 beds
with over 500 primary and specialty care providers.
Assisted and Special Needs Housing There are approximately 30 facilities that provide housing
and services, such as convalescent/nursing homes,
group homes, and shelters for both children and adults.

Shopping Mall Pheasant Lane Mall is the largest mall in Nashua with
1,000,000 square feet of leasing space.
Stadiums Holman Stadium is a 2,800-seat outdoor stadium owned

by the City of Nashua. The Nashua Silver Knights of
Futures Collegiate Baseball League play approximately
28 home games there.

Stellos Stadium is a 3,500-seat outdoor stadium that is
owned by the City of Nashua. The stadium hosts local
high schools, local youth organizations, state
tournaments and other games for a total of
approximately 200 events per year.

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Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH

Transportation Networks

Roads

The F.E. Everett Turnpike, also known as U.S. Route 3, runs through Nashua. The turnpike is a high-speed
connection to the interstate highway system, granting access south into metro-Boston and north into
Manchester. Nashua has eight highway exits, making virtually any location in the city no more than a few
short minutes away from the highway.

Buses

The Nashua Transit System provides bus service within the City of Nashua. All Nashua Transit System buses
and trolleys are ADA accessible and equipped with bike racks. The company operates two electric hybrid
buses, ten compressed natural gas buses, three low-floor Arboc passenger vans, six low-floor cutaway
passenger vans, and two trolleys.

The Nashua Transit System operates three distinct travel programs.

Figure 32. Nashua Transit System Travel Programs

CityBus A daytime fixed route service that runs on 13
different routes.

After 7 An evening service that runs on four routes.

City Lift A Paratransit and senior citizen service that
operates on the same routes as CityBus and
includes some additional service areas.

Rail Lines
Nashua has two active rail lines that pass through the city—the New Hampshire Main Line and the
Hillsborough Branch. Both of these rail lines are owned by Pan Am Railways.

Nearly three-quarters of all freight shipped into New Hampshire by rail is received in this region. The New
Hampshire Department of Transportation has a proposed project called the Nashua-Concord Corridor, which
would provide a direct passenger rail connection from Boston to Nashua by expanding the Massachusetts
Bay Transportation Authority's service area of the Lowell Commuter Rail Line.

Airport

Nashua Airport, otherwise known as Boire Field, is a very active General Aviation Airport in the northwest
corner of the city. Boire Field is a low-capacity facility with a 6,o00-foot asphalt runway. Airport operations
include flight training, charter, corporate, military, recreational flights, and small-scale fueling operations.

Waterways
The Merrimack and Nashua Rivers both flow through Nashua. The Merrimack River allows for boat traffic.
There is a low frequency of events, but there are also very few access points.

The Nashua River is not navigable with motorized boats but is frequented by kayaks. Nashua Fire Rescue
does receive calls to respond to medical and rescue incidents on this river.

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Mass Gatherings

Mass gathering events are planned each year across the city. Examples include sporting events, festivals,
parades, conventions, dedications, memorials, and occasionally high-profile meetings or visits by dignitaries.
In today’s environment, special events increase police, fire, and EMS workloads and may be considered
terrorist targets due to large concentrations of crowds, the symbolic nature of the event, high-profile
attendees, and increased media attention.

High concentrations of people can overwhelm first responders and compromise basic human services.
Treating these events as “planned emergencies” and using the national incident management systems for
planning and operating will allow for a rapid transition to emergency response should an incident occur
during the mass gathering.*®

The city has a robust downtown area that hosts parades, festivals, and other gatherings throughout the year.
These events were widely canceled or scaled-back as a result of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic but are
expected to resume when the pandemic is controlled. Some of Nashua’s traditional events include:

= Holiday Stroll «= Downtown Dinner & Movie series
« Taste of Downtown Nashua «= Summer Fun
» Restaurant Week « Farmers’ Market

Civil Disturbance

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines a civil disturbance is “a civil unrest activity such
as a demonstration, riot, or strike that disrupts a community and requires intervention to maintain public
safety.”

Civil unrest has doubled in the past decade as citizens protest issues ranging from economic hardship to
police brutality and political instability, according to the 2020 Global Peace Index.” The COVID-19 pandemic
could make things worse, according to Steve Killelea, founder of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP),
which annually publishes the index. “It’s likely that the economic impact of COVID-19 will magnify tensions
by increasing unemployment, widening inequality, and worsening labor conditions—creating alienation from
the political system and increasing civil unrest. We, therefore, find ourselves at a critical juncture, “Killelea
said.”

The United States Fire Administration offers guidance for responding to civil disturbances. Civil Disturbance
Management should include coordination of response activities, modifying operations based on perceived
threats or risk, and maintaining situational awareness.”®

16 Topic Collection: Mass Gatherings/Special Events. Retrieved from: https://asprtracie. hhs. gov/technical-resources/85/Mass-
Gatherings-Special-Events/o.

17 https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/civil-unrest….
18 https://www.usfa.fema.gov/operations/civil_unrest/operations.html.

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Master Plan

COMMUNITY RISK PRIORITIES

Nashua Fire Rescue, NH

Assessing community risks can be a complex process. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to scoring risks

and no single correct way to prioritize those risks. Risk scoring methodologies can include a wide variety of
mathematical formulas, three-axis calculations, scoring charts, and critical tasking staffing tables. Just as
every community is different, the mitigating factors within a community can have varying impacts. For this
reason, ESCI recommends that communities employ a variety of different risk assessment methodologies
and then evaluate the results in totality when establishing community risk priorities.

In her recent article 3 Elements of an Effective Fire Department Community Risk Assessment, Dr. Lori Moore-

Merrell provided the following explanation for the three main elements that should provide the foundation

for all community risk assessments:79

Figure 33. Community Risk Assessment Elements

Oey NUN Ued.4 ee
Assessment Element P

1. Probability
(likelihood) of an
incident occurring.

2. Consequence
(magnitude) of an
incident on the
community.

3. Impact of an
incident on the
department’s
response system.

Probability is associated with the frequency of an incident type.
Incidents with high probability will occur more frequently. Once these
predictions are made, risks can then be ranked as having a low,
moderate, or high probability of occurring.

Consequence is the measure of the outcome of an incident type
occurrence. To assess consequence, fire department leaders must first
identify, categorize, and prioritize community hazards. Hazards are the
causes of danger and peril in the community. Risk quantifies the
degree of potential danger the hazard presents. The consequences of
an emergency incident result from a combination of the risk level of
the hazard, the duration and nature of the event, and the response
interventions. Consequences are divided into four categories:

1. Civilian and firefighter injury or loss of life
2. Property damage or loss

3. Critical infrastructure damage or loss

4. Environmental damage or loss

Impact is a measure that explains the effects of multiple concurrent
incidents on the fire department. Impact describes a fire
department's ability to provide ongoing services to the remaining
areas of a community considering frequent activity in known high-
volume demand areas.

19 https://www.lexipol.com/resources/blog/3-elements-of-an-effective-fire-….

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