Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH
Inspections
The Nashua Fire Marshal’s Office conducted 3,170 plan reviews/permits, inspections, complaints, and
investigational activities during 2019. It should be noted that 1,685 of these activities are required to be
inspected/issued under specific New Hampshire statutes as they are places of assembly and schools.
The current inspection program includes regular inspections of places of assembly, schools, hospitals, and
nursing homes. In addition, the Office works very closely with the Building Safety Department to ensure all
complaints on vacant and blighted buildings are addressed. The Building Safety Department handles all
mechanical and gas piping inspections for the City even though the authority to enforce the specific codes
and standards is granted to the Fire Chief under New Hampshire RSA 154:2 II (a).
Fire Investigations
Under New Hampshire 154:7 a, all fires in the State of New Hampshire are required to have an Origin and
Cause Investigation performed. Furthermore, if the fire is determined to be of a suspicious or incendiary
nature, the investigation will involve members of the police department. The Nashua Fire Marshal's Office
handles fire investigations with prosecution handled by the Nashua Police Department. The Nashua Fire
Marshal's Office can also request assistance from the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
ESCI’s review of statistical data related to the number of structure fires during the last five years revealed no
adverse trends in fire loss for the City.
Public Education
Public education is an essential function performed by the fire service and is a vital part of any agency's
community risk reduction program. The Public Educator position was eliminated in the 2006 budget and
currently, Nashua Fire Rescue does not have an established fire prevention or community risk reduction
program in place. In addition, Nashua had a strong regional Juvenile Fire Setter program; however, it was
disbanded many years ago. NFPA 1730 and the Vision 20/20 National Strategies for Fire Loss Prevention
program are the current best practices in regards to this area of fire prevention.
Training & Safety Division
Training programs are critical to ensuring that agencies are able to provide a number of competent and
cutting-edge emergency response services to the community. Nashua Fire Rescue currently provides the
following emergency response services:
« Firefighting
« Emergency Medical Services
« — Regional Hazardous Materials Response
«= Dive Team Response
= Confined Space Rescue
= Trench Rescue
» Automobile Extrication
« High and Low Angle Rescue
fj Emergency Services
ESC) Consulting International 83
