Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH
Considerable ongoing local, regional, and national discussion and debate draws a strong focus and attention
to the matter of firefighter staffing. Frequently, this discussion is set in the context of firefighter safety. The
jurisdiction may choose to establish response demand zones and use the criteria outlined in NFPA standards.
As detailed in the Historical System Performance section of this report, NFPA 1710, 2020 edition, specifies the
number of firefighters assigned to an engine company to be “minimum of four on-duty members personnel
per engine company.”**
ESCI notes that the more critical issue is the number of firefighters assembled at the scene of an incident in
conjunction with the scope and magnitude of the job tasks expected of them, regardless of the type or
number of vehicles upon which they arrive. NFPA 1710 recommends that the number of on-duty fire
suppression members shall be sufficient to perform the necessary firefighting operations given the expected
firefighting conditions.” The standard further recommends that the numbers shall be determined through
task analyses that take the following factors into consideration.
Figure 56. Staffing Factors”®
Staffing Factors
Life hazard to the populace protected.
Provisions of safe and effective firefighting performance conditions for the firefighters.
Potential property loss.
Nature, configuration, hazards, and internal protection of the properties involved.
Types of fireground tactics and evolutions employed as standard procedure, type of
apparatus used, and results expected to be obtained at the fire scene.
Staff Scheduling Methodology
The total number of positions required becomes a policy decision based on the needs of the jurisdiction. The
jurisdiction also establishes the number of employees needed above the minimum to allow for vacancies due
to vacation, sick, and other types of leave. This staff requirement above the minimum yields a total number
of full-time employees required to ensure necessary daily minimum staffing is achieved according to policy.
Minimum staffing for Nashua Fire Rescue is four firefighters per engine company or ladder company.
Nashua Fire Rescue uses a four-platoon (shift) system that uses rotations of one 10-hour day that is
immediately followed by one 14-hour night, and then either 48 or 96 hours off. This rotation yields a 42-hour
average workweek over an eight-week cycle for shift operations. Each shift is led by a Deputy Chief (4 total)
who serves as the senior officer on the shift. These Deputy Chiefs answer directly to the Assistant Chief, who
is on a weekly 40-hour schedule and occasionally assumes an operational role as needed. These individuals
are responsible for all aspects of the shift operations and serve as the Fire Chief's representative at significant
incidents.
24 NFPA 1710 2020 ed.: 5.2.3.1.1.
25 NFPA 1710 2020 ed.: 5.2.2*.
26 NFPA 1710 2020 ed.: 5.2.2.1.
ESC) Emergency Services 6
Consulting International 7
