The Nantucket Zoning Board of Appeals held a special meeting on January 24, 2025, to address critical concerns regarding the town's firefighting capabilities in light of recent developments. A former member of the Nantucket Fire Department, who served for 13 years, presented a compelling case about the limitations of the town's water supply during emergencies.

The speaker highlighted their experience at the Veranda House fire, where they managed firefighting operations. They emphasized that the current water pressure and quantity available in Nantucket are inadequate for effective firefighting, contradicting claims made by Chief Krantz and project engineers. The former firefighter detailed that during the Veranda House incident, the department utilized 850,000 gallons of water from the town's water towers, which have a total capacity of 4 million gallons.

With only three fire apparatus available, the department faced significant challenges. They reported that the firefighting efforts peaked at 2,000 gallons per minute, which was at the limit of the available pressure. The speaker noted that any additional firefighting activity would have resulted in severe pressure loss across the fire ground.

The former firefighter also referenced data from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), indicating that the water company's current capacity is 3,900 gallons per minute, with two wells out of service. On peak days, the town's water usage can reach 3,300 gallons per minute, raising concerns about the sustainability of water supply during emergencies.

In conclusion, the speaker underscored the urgent need for the town to address these water supply issues, stating that the Veranda House fire represented the limit of the Nantucket Fire Department's capabilities. They called for a reevaluation of the town's resources to ensure adequate firefighting support in the future, highlighting the ongoing challenges in augmenting services with volunteer or mutual aid personnel. The meeting concluded with a clear message: Nantucket must confront its significant firefighting resource limitations to safeguard the community effectively.