Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH
Nashua Fire Rescue does not differentiate the initial alarm assignment by occupancy. As such, a fire in a strip
mall or garden apartment, both of which NFPA 1710 recommends 28 firefighters on an initial full alarm
assignment, will each have 18 firefighters initially dispatched. It would be up to the Incident Commander to
request a “Working Fire” assignment which would increase the response from 18 to 26 firefighters. A second
alarm assignment would send an additional engine and ladder truck and a total of 8 additional firefighters.
The second alarm assignment would put a total of 34 firefighters on-scene for a fire in a strip mall or garden
apartment, which exceeds the 28 firefighters specified by NFPA 1710. ESCI suggests that Nashua Fire Rescue
should modify its current alarm assignments to satisfy critical staffing functions for fires in occupancies such
as strip malls and garden apartments by ensuring that the initial full alarm assignment deploys at least 28
firefighters.
Emergency Medical Services Responses
Nashua’s standard response for an EMS response is to send either an engine or a ladder truck with a crew of
four firefighters as “first responders.” This crew is tasked with providing patient care on the scene in advance
of an ambulance's arrival. At a minimum, all Nashua firefighters have basic first aid and Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR) training. All Nashua firefighters hired after 1999 are required to maintain Emergency
Medical Technician Certification. A number of firefighters hold advanced certifications such as paramedic.
Special Operations Responses
The Nashua Fire Rescue Hazmat Team is broken into two groups: primary (A Team) and backup (B Team)
member. The A Team Members are all stationed at Station 2.
When the team is in quarters, the A Team will respond to a hazardous materials incident with Engine 2, and
Special Hazards 1. The decontamination trailer will only respond if needed. In the event that the A Team
members are previously committed to another call, the B Team members will respond to the Station and
then respond to the incident with Special Hazards 1 and another engine company in place of Engine 2.
The Dive Team is a part of the Emergency Services Division. A cooperative effort with the Nashua Police
Department, the Nashua Fire Rescue Dive Team's primary role is to rescue and work in a support capacity
with the Police Department for recovery situations. Nashua’s Dive Team members are not assigned to one
specific fire station. For dive calls, the diver in the first due area will respond to the scene and begin size-up
operations. The remaining on-duty divers will respond from their assigned stations to Station 2, where they
will then respond with the Dive Truck, Marine 1, two boats, and an air supply.
Nashua Fire Rescue uses a Dive/HazMat Report (DHMT) to determine response for out-of-town specialty
team responses. This plan is distributed to the on-duty shift, Fire Alarm Division, and Fire Training and Safety
Division and specifies which on duty members are to respond on what apparatus and what functions they are
assigned to perform.
fj Emergency Services
ESC) Consulting International 80
