The Allenstown Fire Department was first started in the early 1900s, although town reports prior to that era reported raising money to pay firemen in town and signing a contract with Suncook Water Works for a hydrant system. When fires did break out, response was necessary from surrounding towns such as Pembroke, whose fire station was right over the town line in the village of Suncook.

By 1907 Allenstown had purchased a hose carriage, and the department was paying rent to Suncook Mills for a police/fire station at an unknown location. This housed the hose carriage and the department’s next apparatus, a 1921 locally built truck. It’s unclear what chassis it was, but it came from Dudley Brothers and had bodywork completed by JB Filleul & Son.

In 1921 the town started raising money for its own fire station, but it hadn’t been spent by at least 1927. The station, when completed, would be a two-bay building located at 5 Ferry Street.

In 1935 the department bought another unknown truck chassis from Hall Brothers. The truck was built out by the department and initially didn’t include a pump. This was added in 1937 or 1938. Four years later in 1942, a Ford/American LaFrance engine was purchased, but it’s not clear what size pump or tank it had. It was assigned to Engine 2.

In 1954, another American LaFrance engine was purchased, this time built on a GMC chassis. It was assigned to Engine 1 and had a 1000 gallon tank and unknown size pump. Around this time the department entered into a three-town mutual aid agreement with Pembroke and Hooksett; it was called Tri-Town Mutual Aid.

In 1964 another new engine was delivered for Engine 1 (Pumper 1). This was a Ford/Farrar with 1000 GPM pump and 500 gallon tank. The following year the station was renovated and Engine 2 was refurbished.

At this point in time, Allenstown utilized the VFW Community Ambulance service that also served Pembroke and Allenstown. This service would eventually morph into the Tri-Town Ambulance service that served Allenstown, along with other area communities, until 2024.

In the late 1960s the department had outgrown the fire station and it was in disrepair. The town briefly looked into purchasing a commercial building operated by Travel World and converting into a new station for the department, but the town voted against this option. The department continued looking for a new station over the next few decades, with individual repair projects being funded as needed.

In 1970, Engine 2’s 1942 Ford/American LaFrance was put out of service. (Despite this it would not be sold until1980.) The department purchased a 1952 Mack from an unknown town as a replacement. The next year, the GMC/American LaFrance had its pump replaced with a 750 GPM model. This apparatus continued to serve until 1974, when it was donated to the town’s highway department. The pump was removed from this truck and put into a new hose reel truck built on a 1974 Ford F-250 chassis with Gilbert bodywork.

After 1974 there was mention of a tanker of that model year; a large payment was made to Ward LaFrance that same year, but further information is not available. This same year the town joined Capital Area Fire Mutual Aid Compact as a charter member. In 1976, the department replaced the 1952 Mack with a new American LaFrance for Engine 2.

In 1981, the department acquired another brand-new American LaFrance for Engine 1. This truck had a 1000 GPM pump and 1000 gallon tank. Around this time the department also took ownership of a 600 gallon tank trailer and Reo 6×6 from the town’s Civil Defense department. The Reo had a 1600 gallon tank and unknown size pump; it was assigned to Tanker 1 and used for forestry work. Two used Dodge Power Wagons were also purchased for forestry purposes. One was a 1951 while the other’s model year is unknown. They were assigned to Forestry 1 and Forestry 2.

The department was still utilizing the original fire station in the 1980s, but an addition was built onto it in 1984. This added another two bays, one on either side of the original station. A 1960 Ford was purchased in 1984 for use as Rescue 1; it responded alongside Tri-Town Ambulance on medical calls. This truck was replaced in 1986 with a new Ford F-350 bought from a local dealer.

In 1986 the town considered replacing two apparatus with a Mack/E-One pumper tanker with 2000 gallon tank. This option was voted down and instead the town purchased a 1976 American LaFrance engine that had originally served in Natick, MA. When the town purchased it, they had it refurbished by Ranger so it included a 1250 GPM pump and 1000 gallon tank. It was assigned to Engine 2. (The department also replaced Engine 2 in the past with a 1976 American LaFrance, and it’s not clear if the Natick truck was a second American LaFrance or the previous mention of replacing the 1952 Mack was premature.) The department also retired its 1964 Ford/Farrar engine and the hose reel truck around this time.

The town hired its first full-time firefighters in 1988, two members that provided daytime coverage during weekdays when volunteers were less able to respond due to out-of-town jobs.

In 1991, the department took delivery of a 1990 E-One Cyclone pumper with 1250 GPM pump and 1000 gallon tank. This was assigned to Engine 4. In 1993, the Allenstown Firefighters Association donated a used 1970 American LaFrance 100’ ladder to the department. It had originally served in Concord and was assigned to Truck 2. The department also took delivery of a 1993 Avon boat.

Despite the department adding the addition to its station in the 1980s, space was still tight with 10 trucks on the roster. The department started to focus on consolidating its apparatus around this time. In 1996, it worked with the Pembroke Fire Department on a consolidation and efficiency plan. This allowed both departments to downsize a bit as well as time apparatus replacements so both towns weren’t duplicating the same types of purchases. Allenstown quickly retired three apparatus (the 1974 Ward LaFrance and two other, unknown trucks).

In 2000 the department refurbished Engine 1’s American LaFrance, and the town raised funds to build a new fire station on a lot directly to the east of the existing one. This station was a five-bay, two story building, although the second floor was left unfinished due to budget constraints. That same year the 1970 American LaFrance ladder was removed from service. The department had a lead on a refurbished 2000 American LaFrance quint, and it appears as though the funding was approved by the town, but this purchase never happened for some reason. In 2001, a Ford/AEV ambulance was delivered for use as Rescue 1.

The department replaced the 1976 American LaFrance with a 2004 E-One Typhoon with 1500 GPM pump and 1500 gallon tank in 2004. The outgoing truck was sold at state auction to an unknown bidder. This same year, the department started a live-in program with fire science students attending school at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Laconia. Students would receive free housing at the station, and in return would staff apparatus when not in class.

In 2005, the department purchased its second-ever ladder truck, a used 1991 E-One Hurricane that originally served in Toledo, OH. It had an 80’ ladder and would be assigned to Truck 2, replacing the 1986 rescue. The rescue would be converted into a new forestry unit in 2006, replacing the second Dodge Power Wagon. It was given a 150 GPM pump and 200 gallon tank. The same year, the department bought a 2006 Ford pickup for a utility truck, replacing a 1986 pickup.

In 2013, Engine 1’s 1981 American LaFrance was replaced with another E-One Typhoon. This truck had a 2000 GPM pump and 1000 gallon tank. Four years later in 2017, Rescue 1’s 2001 Ford/AEV, Truck 2’s 1991 E-One ladder, and Engine 4’s 1990 American LaFrance were all retired due to the cost of repairs. The department added an AB Profile 16’ boat to the fleet in 2017 as well, replacing the 1993 Avon. And in 2018, a Ford F-550/Warner mini pumper was delivered for use as Rescue 2. It was equipped with a 1000 GPM pump, 250 gallon tank, and 50 gallon foam tank.

In 2021 the department replaced its 1986 forestry with a 2020 Ford F-350 with 270 gallon tank. It also added a 2021 Polaris Ranger 1000 UTV to the fleet. It was outfitted with a 70 gallon tank. Around this time the department also received a used 2015 Ford Explorer from the PD for use as a command car.

In 2023, the department began plans to move ambulance service in house rather than contracting through Tri-Town Ambulance. A 2010 Ford E-450/LifeLine was purchased that year, having originally served in Eastham and Westwood, MA. This was assigned to Ambulance 2 and responded alongside Tri-Town for about a year to year-and-a-half. By the time summer 2024 arrived, Allenstown took over sole responsibility for medical aid and transporting in the town. They purchased one of Tri-Town’s ambulances, a 2019 Ford E-450/AEV that had served as Ambulance 3, repainted it red, and assigned it to Ambulance 1.

Also in 2024, the department purchased another used ladder truck. Assigned to Tower 2, it was a 2006 Pierce Dash rear mount tower with 100’ ladder, 2000 GPM pump, and 300 gallon tank. It had originally served in Iowa City, IA. The truck was placed in service in early 2025.

There have been 19 chiefs of the Allenstown Fire Department.

• Joseph Laliberte (1933)
• Esdras Lavallee (1934-1941)
• Aime Neveu (1941-1943)
• Henry Lavoie (1944-1960)
• Amedee Courtemanche (1961-1965)
• Robert Chevrette (1965-1969)
• Leandre “Lippy” Desrochers (1969-1977)
• Roger Letendre (1978-1987)
• Donald “Pel” Peloquin (1987-1994)
• Richard Martel (1994)
• Richard Verville (1994-2000)
• Albert Dionne (2000-2002)
• Everett “Chappy” Chaput III (2003-2009)
• Daniel Hart (2009-2010)
• Robert Martin (2011-2013)
• Dana Pendergast (2013-2017)
• Shawn Murray (2017-2018)
• Paul St. Germain (2018-2021)
• Eric Lambert (2021- )

Allenstown NH Fire Department website
Allenstown 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 Allenstown 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.