Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH
Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)
The Alpine Software CAD system was installed in Nashua in 2017. The system is running Alpine’s Red NMX,
with revisions sent regularly. There are a total of seven CAD consoles in the communications center: Dispatch
Floor (3), Training Room (2), Administrators Offices (2). The Fire Communications Center reported very little
CAD system downtime since the system was moved from a Cloud platform to a local server solution. The
Cloud platform was experiencing multiple issues, so it was decided to convert to a local platform with servers
in the backroom. The CAD system is taken down once a quarter to have the dispatchers go to manual CAD
system for practice. The City possesses its own fiber network, which connects the fire stations to the Center.
Mapping
Maintaining the CAD map is the responsibility of the City GIS and the Fire Department. The map is ESRI-
based, with a Google maps integration. The map uses the ESRI layer to define the city limits, then it changes
to the Google maps option.
Management Information Systems (MIS) and Records Management Systems (RMS)
Alpine Software has both a MIS and RMS module in CAD. NFIRS reports come from the RMS module.
Statistical reports can be generated on request. Dispatchers have access to RMS.
9-1-1
There are two 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) in New Hampshire. These PSAPs are located in
Concord and Laconia. All 9-1-1 calls are routed to one of two sites; additionally, both of the sites back each
other up. They perform all 9-1-1 call interrogation and will perform Emergency Medical Dispatch pre-arrival
instructions if needed. The Fire Communications Center can see when a 9-1-1 call is placed in its jurisdiction
and entered in the 9-1-1 system. This allows the dispatcher to be prepared for events before the call is given
to them. There are two dedicated trunks for call/data transfer from the 9-1-1 PSAP, six 10-digit emergency
lines, eight non-emergency lines, and three business lines call forwarded from City offices.
The State of New Hampshire provides 9-1-1 customer premise equipment (CPE). All 9-1-1 lines are Voice over
Internet Protocol (VoIP). The Fire Communications Center also has copper phone lines as a backup. The
g-1-1 CPE was upgraded in 2020 and includes a management information system (MIS) platform as a part of
the 9-1-1 system.
Fire Box System
The Fire Communications Center monitors the City-wide telegraph fire alarm box system that includes 865
fire alarm boxes. The central alarm station is located in another building separate from the Fire
Communications Center. Box transmissions are relayed to the Center via a Digitizer system.
Mobile Data
The fire department utilizes tablets for mobile data computers in its vehicles. The software application is by
the CAD vendor—Alpine Software, which is running RedNMX—the current version of software. Connection
from the vehicles is through a cellular card to Cloud servers to the CAD system.
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