History of the Newington Fire Department
History of the NewinGton Fire Department
Newington’s first fire department was established to protect the Shattuck Shipyard during World War I. With the aid of two 100-horsepower, 4-cylinder LaFrance pumpers and an auxillary pumper, local Personnel protected the area day and night. The department was disbanded with the sale of the shipyard to the Atlantic Dye Stuff Corporation and the lumber and ships were removed.
Newington organized the first Volunteer Fire Department in 1945 with their headquarters in the Atlantic Terminal Sales Corporation. Housed in a two-bay station, they utilized two old Mack oil trucks, an 800-gallon tank truck and another with a fire truck body. These were further upgraded in 1947 and 1948.
1958 was a year to be remembered for the Newington Fire Department. With the building of the Civic Center and the new Fire Station, the Department was equipped with fire trucks and equipment to be an approved Fire Department by the New Hampshire State Board of Fire Under-writers. On February 1, 1958 the Newington Volunteer Fire Department was officially organized by an Ordinance filed with the Town Clerk and the Department moved into their new headquarters at 11:00am the same day.
In this new three-bay station they housed two new trucks, purchased from the Atlantic Terminal Sales Corporation. A third, 750-gallon-per-minute pump and a 500-gallon tank was later delivered on March 6, 1958. The fleet further grew with the additions of an ambulance and a 16-foot open aluminum boat.
In 1953, the Ladies Auxiliary was organized with a membership of 15. Over the years they assisted with furnishing the fire department, funding emergency food supplies and providing health and educational experiences to the community. By 1986 the Auxiliary’s membership had more than doubled to aid the department.
By the Summer of 1977 the Newington Fire Department was seeing various changes. Under the guide of Chief Walter Pickering, the department was transitioned from a volunteer status to a “call” system. Reflecting changing times and changing lifestyles, this helped ensure stable coverage and prevent volunteer burnout. The department had a roster of 47 members to provide aid to the area’s estimated 600 residents. The department’s fleet further grew to include a 1000-gallon tanker and a 1972 pumper.
As public demand increased the need to streamline and optimize grew. The department utilized a “Red Phone” system which required around the clock monitoring. Due to the lack pf availability on occasion, new plans were developed. The Durham Dispatch Center would monitor the “Red Phone”, sound the fire alarm and contact every fireman through their radio beepers. This also began the discussions of transitioning to a Full-time staffed department.
May 12, 1996 marked the first day that Newington Fire Department had 24-hour Station coverage. With a full-time personnel of five, they were officially a full-time, 24-Hour Fire Department.
To date, the Newington Fire Department is operating with a Full-time Fire Chief and Full-time Assistant Chief and a roster of full-time and part-time certified firefighters/EMT’s.