Like many New Hampshire towns, Greenland’s early history did not include organized firefighting efforts. By the early 1900s, the town had its own forest fire wardens, but these were not focused on building fires. In 1923, the town listed a payment to Portsmouth for fire protection; it’s unknown if this was the first time the city was contracted to provide fire suppression for Greenland, or if it was just the first time it was listed in a town report.

For the next 20+ years, Greenland relied on the Portsmouth Fire Department, but by 1949, the town raised funds to get their own department operational. The Greenland Veterans Association donated a used Ford truck, 800 gallon tank, and booster pump; the apparatus was built by a combination of labor from the fire department and a chief from Newington. Designated Engine 1, it did not initially have a home and was housed outdoors at an unknown location. In the winter, it had to be placed out of service because the water in the tank froze. In 1951, a local electric shop let the department keep the truck in a makeshift garage. In order to keep the water from freezing, and canvas curtains, blowers, and lamps were utilized. That same year, the department joined the Interstate Emergency Unit, a mutual aid association that served as a predecessor to the current Seacoast Chief Fire Officers Mutual Aid District.

In 1952, a permanent two-bay station was built on donated land on Portsmouth Avenue. Two years later, the department acquired its second apparatus, a smaller unit from Salisbury, MA. It was used for forestry calls and as a hose wagon for structural calls. No information has been found about this truck at the time but it is likely to have served as Engine 2. It is possible that this was a 1931 Studebaker, as the department did have one on the roster in later years.

In 1960 the department took delivery of a Ford/Farrar pumper with 750 GPM pump and 600 gallon tank. This was assigned to Engine 3. Six years later, the town clerk’s office moved into the fire station, which made the building very tight for both operations. And in 1969, the department bought a used 1952 American LaFrance pumper from Wolcott, CT. It was equipped with a 500 GPM pump and 750 gallon tank and replaced Engine 2, which by this time was running the 1931 Studebaker mentioned earlier. This apparatus update relegated Engine 1’s Ford to be mainly used for forestry operations.

In 1971, the department obtained a 1951 model year 2 ½ ton chassis from Civil Defense and worked on outfitting it as a tanker, designated Tanker 1 when it went into service the following year. This replaced the department’s original Ford on the roster. In order to fit this truck along with two others in the station, the town had to modify the station to remove some columns and widen a bay door.

In 1976, they signed a contract with UNH Fire Alarm for dispatch services, replacing the Red Phone system for dispatching. Three years later, the department took delivery of a replacement for Engine 2’s American LaFrance. The new pumper was built by Maxim and was painted lime green. It had a 1500 GPM pump, 500 gallon tank, and LDH hose reel.

The department made big strides in the 1980s. A new station was completed in 1980 at the town square, and that same year they started providing EMS first response services. Prior to this, calls were handled in town by local ambulance companies such as Earle’s Ambulance Service. With Greenland doing first response calls, a deal was made with Newington to use their ambulance for transport purposes. The following year, Newington donated this ambulance (a 1972 International Travelall) to Greenland when they purchased a new one. This was assigned to Ambulance 1.

In 1986, the department obtained three new apparatus. The first, assigned to Engine 3 and replacing the Ford/Farrar, was a Mack chassis with 3D bodywork. It had a 1500 GPM pump and 1000 gallon tank. The second, assigned to Engine 1 and replacing the 1951 tanker, was also a Mack with 3D bodywork. This had a 1250 GPM pump and 750 gallon tank. The third was a new ambulance to replace the 1972 truck; a very successful fundraising drive led to a period of just two weeks passing between its start and delivery of the ambulance. It’s unknown what chassis it was or who did the ambulance box. In 1988, a utility truck of some sort was purchased for use as a rescue.

With an up-to-date apparatus roster, not much happened during the 1990s. The 1979 Maxim of Engine 2 was refurbished in 1998, and the Macks were repainted from lime green to white over red.

Another new ambulance was delivered in 2001, this one a Ford E-450/Road Rescue, assigned to Ambulance 2 and replacing the 1986 ambulance. The following year, a brand-new 2003 Ford F-250 was purchased to replace the 1988 rescue. This was assigned to Utility 1. In 2007, a new top-mount pumper was delivered for Engine 3. This was a Spartan with Smeal body and was equipped with a 1500 GPM pump and 1000 gallon tank. The following year Engine 1 was replaced with a Mack/KME tanker designated Tanker 1. It had a 1250 GPM pump and 3000 gallon tank. The department also obtained a 2008 Express cargo trailer and 2008 Arctic Cat ATV around this time.

In 2013, a Ford E-450/LifeLine ambulance was delivered for Ambulance 1, giving the department two on the roster. In 2015 a new Engine 2 was delivered to replace the Maxim. This was a KME build with 1500 GPM pump, 1000 gallon tank, and 3000’ LDH hose reel.

In the late 2010s, the department began looking at options for a new fire station where the Public Works Department was located. A three- to four-bay station was considered, as well as a dayroom for the per-diem firefighters that had been hired mid-decade. As was becoming increasingly common in smaller towns, having responders available for calls during weekday hours was difficult. Therefore, Greenland discussed regionalizing fire services with both Newington and Stratham, but nothing came of these talks.

In 2023, the department took delivery of a Ford F-550/PL Custom ambulance for Ambulance 2.

There have been 10 chiefs of the Greenland Fire Department.

• Russell A. Rolston (1944-1951)
• Robert G. Arey (1951-1954)
• William B. Brackett (1954-1963)
• Franklin P. Durgin, Jr (1964-1977)
• Kenneth N. Fernald (1977-1987)
• Donald Miller (1987)
• Duncan Brackett (1988-1996)
• Timothy C. Collins (1996-2001)
• Ron Hussey (2001-2005)
• Ralph Cresta (2005- )

Greenland NH Fire Department website
Greenland Fire Department Facebook page

Much of this history relies on town records, fire buff websites, and community memory. If you have photos, documents, or personal recollections related to the Greenland Fire Department—especially from prior to 2000—we’d be grateful to hear from you. Please feel free to email nhfirehistory (at) gmail (dot) com with any information you’d like to share.