Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH
Technology is an evolving field and agencies failing to have plans in place to address ongoing changes in
operating systems can be caught in a position of being required to expend significant and finite budget
revenues to update computers no longer supported by manufacturers. As part of its records management
efforts, the Department utilizes Alpine RedNMX RMS® and Windows® based computers to accomplish its
organizational responsibilities. The Department uses the City’s IT services to maintain its computer inventory
and securely store digital records off-site. ESCI recommends that Nashua Fire Rescue work with its IT services
to ensure an effective IT management strategy is in place to address current and future department related
software are operated and maintained in accordance to standards within NFPA 950: Standard for Data
Development and Exchange for the Fire Service and NFPA 951: Guide to Building and Utilizing Digital
Information.
Information Technology (IT) is a challenge within Nashua Fire Rescue. The city currently staffs a central IT
Division that services all city departments with the exception of the police department. In recent years, the
fire department has become increasingly more reliant on computers, laptops and tablets for both routine and
emergency operations more. The fire department should consider staffing a dedicated IT position to support
these applications.
Interviews with various stakeholders indicated that Nashua Fire Rescue sometimes encounters challenges
with ensuring accountability for reading and confirming understanding of the new, or updated, policy when
placed onto the intranet. ESCI recommends that Nashua Fire Rescue implement the use of an online
platform, such as Target Solutions®, as a mechanism to inform individuals when new policies and procedures
are published. This system allows each employee to receive the new documents personally and acknowledge
receipt with an electronic timestamp. The system also enables the Department to require each employee to
answer questions specific to the document's content and ensure the employee receives the desired
information. Since Nashua Fire Rescue is preparing to begin using the Target Solutions® platform in its
Training Program, using the program to track policies and procedures would be a logical next step.
Facility Security
Fire departments have typically been considered to be open environments where residents and visitors from
the community have been allowed access to any part of a fire station with very few limitations. Unfortunately,
the current social environment requires emergency services providers to implement specific security
measures limiting and controlling access to fire department facilities. This is driven by the need to protect
firefighters, expensive equipment, and sensitive data from inadvertently being accessed by individuals
desiring to harm the community.
ESCI recommends that the Department implement video monitoring and recording at exterior entry points
to ensure an increased level of security and awareness as to who is or attempting to enter Nashua Fire Rescue
facilities. The Department should also evaluate the implementation of an access card system that identifies
each fire department member accessing facilities. This evaluation should also include the ability of Nashua
Fire Rescue leadership to change access of a staff member immediately from a central location based upon
a member’s employment status or operational concern.
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ESC) Consulting International 65
