A Fire Training Facility Is Planned for West Nashua
The City of Nashua plans to build a regional all-hazards fire training facility on a closed landfill in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Here's what residents should know.
A resource built by residents of Nashua Ward 5
Based entirely on public records
Your presence matters
"I'm having a hard time if I had to make a motion to [approve] with a straight face when we have the whole neighborhood here."
The board denied the road application when residents showed up. The waterline case continues — show up again.
Public comments become part of the official record. Submit your concerns to the Conservation Commission, ZBA, and Board of Aldermen.
The Issues
Six interconnected concerns that residents should understand.
PFAS Contamination
$236,800 investigation confirms contamination. Higher PFAS levels found near fire training grounds. No air emission standards exist.
Wetlands & Vernal Pools
Documented wetlands, endangered species habitat, and vernal pools within 100 feet of the proposed facility.
Water Service Proposal
The water connection is being advanced separately to avoid triggering comprehensive environmental review.
The Cleared Corridor
The road was denied 5-0 for changing the neighborhood 'irreparably.' The City came back with a permanent 20-foot corridor — when an underground alternative costs the same.
Air Quality & Wind
Daily 'all-hazards' operations would send smoke and airborne PFAS into residential neighborhoods. No air assessment planned.
37 Ridge Road — The Right Site
42 acres, city-owned, clean upland — the site where Nashua can build the state-of-the-art facility our firefighters deserve.
Latest Updates
View full timeline →Paula Johnson Raises PFAS Invoice at Finance Committee
communityWard 5 Alderman Paula Johnson questions the PFAS investigation invoice at Finance Committee meeting. Reveals the city has known about PFAS contamination for years — the state requested testing 5-6 years ago, but the city ignored it and only acted now because they need to build the DPW garage. Shares Senator Avard/NHDES correspondence proving the timeline of inaction.
Finance Committee CIP Reveals $1.98M Fire Training Facility
meetingThe city's Capital Improvement Program request to the Finance Committee reveals the full scope of the fire training facility relocation: $1,980,000 for FY27, including concrete pads, live-fire building, mobile classroom, SCBA compressor, septic, lighting, fencing, and propane UST. The document confirms 'the Fire Service has transitioned from just fighting fires to an all-hazards agency' and includes 'emergency vehicle-only access connection to Teak Drive' — despite the road being denied 5-0 by ZBA. Road access cost is split into a separate budget. The facility itself has never been formally proposed to any board.
NHDES Director Confirms PFAS to NH Senate
regulatoryMichael Wimsatt (NHDES Waste Management Director) writes to Senator Avard correcting Senate testimony — confirms soil and groundwater at fire training site are impacted by PFAS contamination. Fire training must relocate because DPW garage needs the space.
Conservation Commission Approves Conventional Plan 6-0
meetingThe Conservation Commission voted 6-0 to approve the city's revised conventional trenching plan (10ft trench, 8-inch waterline) with conditions including a 12,000 ft easement, pollinator mix, native shrubs, and limiting cut impact. Attorney Prolman dismissed the HDD alternative: 'If we did directional boring, they would find another reason to object.' This came moments after Rody Arantes offered a compromise — HDD for just the first 500 feet. Prolman also revealed Pennichuck initially wanted a 10-inch line but now says 8-inch is sufficient. The city's own consultant Brendan Quigley described the impact area as 'marginal habitat' — contradicting his October 14 ZBA testimony where he called the same property 'highest rank habitat in the region.' After the vote, the commission discussed re-visiting horizontal drilling.
City Issues PFAS Contract Memo
contractCity Purchasing Department issues Memo #26-127 formalizing the $236,800 PFAS Site Investigation contract with Sanborn Head & Associates.