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FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENTFire, Rescue, Ambulance, Wildland Fire, Fire Prevention, Office of the Fire Marshal, EmergencyManagement, Building, Code Enforcement and Health DivisionsThe members of the department are ready for the New Year; as 2016 was a challenging year as we moveever progressively forward, the Merrimack Fire and Rescue Department has transformed to become notonly an organization that extinguishes fires but trains and excels to become an all-hazards/emergencyresponse agency. We have taken on the responsibility of protecting our community by providing thenecessary services of Fire Suppression, Specialized Technical Rescue, Community Risk Assessment,Risk Reduction, Advanced Emergency Medical Services, Fire Prevention Education, Industrial andResidential Fire Inspections, Gas and Propane Tank Inspections, Hazardous Materials (Chemical)Response, Terrorism Response, Emergency Management (Disaster Preparedness and Response,) Fire andArson Investigations, Building Permits and Inspections, Health Department Inspections (Restaurants,Community Pools, Hotels, Foods Establishments, Farmers Market, food trucks/carts) and SafetyInspections for Special Events (Rib Fest, Triathlons, Car Shows, Dog shows etc.)As Fire Chief of the Merrimack Fire and Rescue Department, it is my honor to present the 2016 FireDepartment’s Annual Report.The department has demonstrated the ability to overcome adversity and continues to be a one of a kindexample of excellence in the delivery of emergency services with professionalism that is expected incustomer service that is second to none. The title “fire department” although traditional in its term, by nomeans is an accurate or all-inclusive reflection of what our department provides today. EmergencyMedical Services (EMS) accounts for the majority of our emergency response. We embrace this callingand the future as we explore alternative response models to not only provide better service to ourcustomers in need of advanced life support medical care, but to be more efficient and effective whiledoing so.The Merrimack Fire and Rescue Department may spend upwards of 70 percent of emergency responsesgeared towards EMS. The members are constantly striving for excellence in low frequency, high-riskresponses in structure fires, hazardous material emergencies, and technical rescues including high anglerope rescue, ice rescue and swift water rescues, and vehicle extrication.The training requirements for each of these disciplines are tremendous. The paradox on training states“As the fire service does a better job in preventing fires and other emergencies, the less proficientfirefighters become. Basic skills must be practiced and refreshed. This paradox accelerates the need fortraining in order to provide superior services in the community.” The department’s focus on acomprehensive training program for all members and all disciplines will be a challenge in the upcomingYear.Our Fire Prevention Division continues to inspect and educate businesses regarding code compliancy, andleads all fire investigations to determine their origin and cause. The impact the Fire Prevention has, can beseen daily throughout the Town of Merrimack as the number of fires and fire loss continues to decrease.The focus on target hazard identification, risk analysis, and pre-planning is quickly changing thePrevention Division into the Community Risk Reduction Division. This proactive approach is the epitomeof addressing the fire problem from all angles in order to reduce the dangers to our citizens and ourfirefighters. In addition, allowing the department to manage presented risk and identify specific hazards tothe community and address them through education, enforcement, and engineering.Town of Merrimack

Our Building Division continues to monitor, review plan designs, inspect and educate businessesregarding code compliance and best management practices for construction and safety. Our goal is tohelp home owners and contractors build within our community, follow the requirements and most of allensure consistency. The impact the Building Division can be seen daily throughout the Town ofMerrimack as the number of building permits continues to increase. The focus on customer service anddoing everything we can to assist in completing the project rather than trying to make it difficult throughregulatory road blocks to stop the project. This proactive approach is the epitome of addressing thebuilding needs from all angles in order to help our citizens and our builders. In addition, allowing thedepartment to manage presented risk and identify specific hazards to the community and address themthrough education, enforcement, and engineering.Our Dispatch Communications Division all though under the Police Department direction had madestrides forward with the implementation of computer enhanced emergency run cards for all identifiedemergencies, instituted electronic “Q” sheets to enhance our report quality and through training enhancedtheir ability to understand and provide the needed information to assist our emergency personnel whenresponding to calls. These dispatchers receive calls from individuals and E-911 who need assistance fromFirefighters, Police Officers, and Emergency Medical Services. Our Dispatchers are an integral part of theMerrimack Fire and Rescue Department’s success.The Operations Division continues to be the flagship of the Merrimack Fire and Rescue Department.These men and women are where the rubber meets the road and are the true face of the department. Theyrespond in adverse conditions (sometimes extreme) to emergency incidents that can only be imagined bythe average citizen. Yet, these men and women do it day in and day out, with a smile on their face, and aheart of gold that is second to none simply for the love of community and the job they are so passionateabout. What some citizens do not realize is that every call we respond to in most cases is a citizens worstday, we are here to help and try to make that day better.As we move into 2017, it is time to start reaping the benefits of the past years. In the last years, we havelaid a foundation for the future with accurate data collection, minimum staffing, the reimaging of standardoperating procedures and appreciative of our mission, vision, and values. This will pave the way for thedepartment’s strategic plan, and future needs assessment possibilities. The continuous improvementthrough future technologies will make the emergency response more efficient, more effective, and moreimportantly safer.I am proud of all of the members of the Merrimack Fire and Rescue Department and its long, rich historyand to also be a part of a family like no other. The men and women of the Merrimack Fire and RescueDepartment have and always will be committed to the highest level of service to all citizens of thecommunity. As firefighters, paramedics, EMT’s, building and Health Inspectors, Officers andAdministration, the work done is much more than a job; it’s a way of life and we are all proud to serveyou in everything that we do each day. You can be proud of your Merrimack Fire and Rescue Departmentnow and into the future as it sets the example of service delivery excellence in all levels and types ofservices that are delivered.As the community continues to develop and service gaps are identified, the expansion of the firedepartment will be necessary as we look at the replacement of Fire Station 2 as well as the addition of aNorthwest Fire Station to support the Baboosic Lake Area. Each of these will increase the level of servicebut also ensure that we are meeting the established performance objectives for response capabilities.In service,Fire Chief Michael CurrierTown of Merrimack

OPERATIONS DIVISIONThe Operations Division is under the direction of Assistant Chief (AC) Richard Pierson reporting directlyto the Fire Chief. AC Pierson is directly responsible for all Fire, Technical Rescue and EmergencyMedical Services to the community. He is responsible for all vehicle and apparatus maintenance, testingand certifications. AC Pierson administers the departments Preplan Program. This program requires allbuilding to be classified by their hazard and establishing a plan to mitigate the hazards associated witheach structure in the event of an emergency no matter what the hazard. Along with this responsibility isdeveloping emergency Dispatch Cards (Run Cards) that provide our emergency dispatchers with aguideline on what emergency vehicles and equipment are needed at each emergency scene. AC Pierson isresponsible for all reporting mandates required by the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS)requiring a report for every incident that we respond to ensuring consistent and accurate data for Nationaland State reporting systems. The State of NH TEMSIS Reporting System requiring a detailed report onevery patient that is medically treated or contacted no matter if they are transported to the hospital orrefuse treatment and complete a patient sign-off. AC Pierson is responsible for the maintenance andrepair of all Fire Department buildings and stations. In AC Pierson’s spare time he also working with theFire Chief oversees the planning aspects of the Hazardous Materials Chemical Response Plan and allbiological and terrorist events planning for the community for day-to-day activities or special eventsoccurring within the community or in surrounding communities.The year 2016 was another busy time for Merrimack Fire and Rescue Department Operations personnel.2016 Total 2922Emergency ActivityFire, Hazardous Materials, Motor VehicleAccidents, Service Call, and Mutual Aid RelatedCalls related to 1000 incidents. EmergencyMedical (Ambulance) calls related to 1922incidents, resulted in the treatment of over 2,154patients. The total calls handled this year by thedepartment totaled 2922 emergency incidents.FireRelated,1154,34%Medical,1768,66%2016 Total Medical 1922Fire Related:This includes building fires, vehicle fires, wildlandFires, vehicle accidents, dumpster fires, fire alarms,hazardous materials, natural disasters, rescues andservice calls.Medical: Ambulance CallsALS Advanced Life Support, Serious medicalincident, heart attack etc.BLS Basic Life Support, Moderate medicalincident, broken bones sick, etc.This past year, personnel responded to numeroussignificant incidents including three Working Firesand one 2nd Alarm structure fire, one 2nd AlarmBrush Fire, multiple serious Motor Vehicle Accidents requiring Med flights (helicopter) to Level 1Town of Merrimack