Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH
Of additional concern is that the danger for firefighters does not stop when the fire is extinguished, but
returns to the fire stations through their gear, equipment, and vehicles which were exposed and
contaminated by smoke or other vapors. When contaminated gear and equipment is returned to the station
via their respective response apparatus, the potential for cross-contamination occurs. Many agencies have
developed significant on-scene decontamination procedures intended to minimize the potential for
contaminants entering the work environment. While these efforts have a positive impact, additional
consideration must be given to the physical design of the fire station to minimize these exposures further.
Nashua Fire Rescue should limit/reduce firefighter exposure to toxic products of combustion which occur
after the fire (i.e., off-gassing). This can be done by storing turnout gear in a well-ventilated room to prevent
additional firefighter exposure to off-gassing of chemicals absorbed into turnout gear during a fire.
Apparatus
Nashua Fire Rescue operates and maintains a sizeable fleet of emergency response vehicles as well as a
variety of service and support units. The most visible units are the fire engines and aerial units, but also
include vehicles utilized by Deputy Chiefs and the Fire Chief, as well as Fire Inspectors serving in support of
firefighters. In reviewing the Department's frontline emergency response units, ESCI finds a fleet that is well-
maintained with an average age of nearly seven years. ESCI finds that the current volume of emergency
response vehicles is sufficient to meet current and projected departmental services needs and demands,
outside of any significant changes in the Department's response jurisdiction.
In evaluating any fleet, leadership must consider a variety of factors in determining the department's
operational capabilities. These considerations include, but are not limited to, age, cost of operation (i.e.,
repair costs), and out-of-service time. As with any mechanical device, a fire apparatus possesses a finite life.
Fire departments typically classify emergency response as either being frontline or reserve. Generally, at a
point when a frontline apparatus reaches a certain threshold regarding age or wear and tear, or begins to
require increasing maintenance costs, it is either moved to reserve status or decommissioned. The decision
to move an apparatus to reserve status or decommission it is a local decision, and no definitive industry
standards exist whereby hard and fast rules exist. However, Annex D of NFPA 1901: Standard for Automotive
Apparatus (2016) suggests the following:
The safety improvements addressed in the most recent edition of NFPA 1901 are so significant that the standard
suggests that apparatus more than 15 years old should be refurbished to meet current standards or removed from
service; however, the standard acknowledges that apparatus can continue to be serviceable far beyond the 15-year
threshold, depending on maintenance, wear and tear, service demands, and driver training programs. Finally, 1901
recommends that apparatus over 25 years in age should be replaced.
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ESC) Consulting International 97
