Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH
ESCI heard from members at virtually every meeting that their access to the training facility was very limited
or, insome cases, almost non-existent. The value of hands-on training in a controlled environment cannot be
understated. Nashua Fire Rescue should coordinate regular use of the fire training facility by all of its
companies to ensure proficiency.
Training Procedures and Manuals
Within the fire service, there are many textbooks and training mediums available that allow for organized
and efficient delivery of various training programs. Often referred to as “canned” programs, they are vital to
ensuring clear and attainable outcomes.
Currently, Nashua Fire Rescue does not have a formal fire department training manual that includes formal
lesson plans for various training competencies that members are required to meet. The addition of a formal
manual for all levels of training to include recruit school, company-level training, and specialized training,
such as dive team and hazardous materials responses, will allow for measurable objectives and formalized
delivery.
Training Oversight
As previously noted, training was repeatedly identified as a major weakness within Nashua Fire Rescue.
Placing the Training Safety Division under the direction of the Assistant Chief of Uniform Professional
Standards will provide the oversight that is necessary to establish and then achieve simple, manageable,
achievable, reasonable, and timely (SMART) goals to systematically improve the Nashua Fire and Rescue
Training Program.
Fire Alarm Division
The Fire Alarm Division is responsible for the installation and maintenance of the municipal fire alarm wiring,
which ties street boxes and master boxes to the fire alarm. The City of Nashua maintains over 875 fire alarm
boxes and hundreds of miles of municipal and fiber optic cabling.
The Nashua Fire Communications Center, part of the Fire Alarm Division, dispatches for Nashua Fire Rescue.
In 2019, the Center created 11,359 fire events and 25,960 medical and non-fire events for a total of 37,319
calls for service. In addition to the Fire Communications Center, the Nashua Police Department staffs its own
communications center. Together, these two communication centers receive and dispatch for the City,
receiving requests directly from callers and from the New Hampshire Bureau of Emergency Communications
E-g11 Center. The Fire Communications Center is staffed by two Administrators and 12 Telecommunicators
working four shifts, with three telecommunicators on each shift.
The Center adheres to the NFPA 1221: Standard for the Installation, Maintenance and Use of Emergency
Services Communications Systems, 2019 Edition, with the following exceptions:
= An exposure hazard (NFPA 1221 Chapter 4, Section 4.2).
= Windows that view public access areas (NFPA 1221 Chapter 4, Section 4.6)
» Primary HVAC Systems (NFPA 1221 Chapter 4, Section 4.4)
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ESC) Consulting International 88
