New Hampshire Fire History

NH Fire Dispatch Centers

New Hampshire’s fire and EMS dispatch landscape includes a mix of regional compacts, consolidated communications centers, town fire alarm offices, and police departments that handle fire and EMS dispatch for their communities. Some of these centers serve as the backbone of multi-agency mutual aid systems, while others handle dispatch for just a handful of neighboring communities. Full profiles are available for the larger regional centers below; smaller dispatch arrangements are documented further down the page.

Note that “Founded” denotes when the dispatch center was set up, not when the department itself was established.

Berlin Police Department

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Berlin and Milan
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Milan & Dummer Ambulance
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Berlin Police Department handles fire and EMS dispatch for Berlin, Dummer, and Milan (Dummer does not have a fire department and is covered by Milan), as well as the unincorporated township of Success. Berlin provides fire protection to that township.

Carroll County Communications Center

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Bartlett, Center Ossipee, Effingham, Freedom, Jackson, Madison, Ossipee Corner, Tamworth, West Ossipee, Wakefield, and Tuftonboro
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Action Ambulance and Bartlett-Jackson EMS
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

Carroll County Communications Center, based at the Carroll County Sheriff Department in Ossipee, dispatches nine towns, including seven that are members of Ossipee Valley Mutual Aid.

Concord Fire Alarm

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Consolidated dispatch
Fire Departments Dispatched: Allenstown, Boscawen, Bow, Bradford, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, Deering, Dunbarton, Epsom, Henniker, Hillsboro, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Loudon, Northwood, Pembroke, Pittsfield, Salisbury, Warner, Washington, Weare, and Webster
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Pembroke EMS and Penacook Rescue Squad
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Concord Fire Alarm office, located in the state capital, is a consolidated dispatch center serving the 24 communities that make up the Capital Area Fire Mutual Aid Compact. This includes 23 fire departments, one hazardous materials team, and two EMS agencies.

Learn more about the Capital Area Fire Mutual Aid Compact in this writeup.

Conway Police Department

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Center Conway, Conway Village, North Conway
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Action Ambulance
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Conway Police Department handles fire and EMS dispatch for Albany, Conway, and Eaton (Albany and Eaton do not have fire departments and are covered by Conway), as well as the unincorporated township of Hale’s Location. North Conway provides fire protection to this township.

Derry Fire Alarm

Status: Active
Founded: 1982
Type: Fire alarm office
Fire Departments Dispatched: Auburn, Chester, Derry, and Windham
EMS Agencies Dispatched: N/A
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Derry Fire Alarm office, located at Derry Fire HQ, dispatches for Auburn, Chester, Derry, and Windham, as well as the Southeastern New Hampshire Hazardous Materials Mutual Aid District team.

Dover Police Department

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Dover and Rollinsford
EMS Agencies Dispatched: N/A
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Dover Police Department handles fire and EMS dispatch for Dover and Rollinsford.

Goffstown Police Department

Status: Active
Founded: 1963
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Goffstown and New Boston
EMS Agencies Dispatched: N/A
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Goffstown Police Department handles fire and EMS dispatch for Goffstown and New Boston. From 1995 until 2022, it also dispatched Weare before that town transitioned to Concord Fire Alarm.

Gorham Police Department

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Gorham, Randolph, and Shelburne
EMS Agencies Dispatched: N/A
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Gorham Police Department handles fire and EMS dispatch for Gorham, Randolph, and Shelburne, as well as the unincorporated townships of Bean’s Purchase, Green’s Grant, Low and Burbank’s Grant, Martin’s Location, Pinkham’s Grant, Sargent’s Purchase, and Thompson and Meserve’s Purchase. Gorham provides fire protection for those townships.

Grafton County Sheriff’s Office

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Bath, Bethlehem, Easton, Franconia, Haverhill, Landaff, Lincoln Lisbon, Littleton, Monroe, Piermont, Sugar Hill, Twin Mountain, Whitefield, Woodstock, and Woodsville (NH); Barnet, Bradford, Groton, Newbury, Peacham, Ryegate, Wells River, and West Newbury (VT)
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Calex Ambulance, Linwood Ambulance, Woodsville Ambulance
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Grafton County Sheriff Department in Haverhill dispatches fire and EMS for 16 towns in New Hampshire and another six in Vermont, including many that are members of the Twin State Fire Mutual Aid association. It also serves as the dispatch resource for the North County Hazmat team.

Hampton Fire Alarm

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Fire alarm office
Fire Departments Dispatched: Hampton and Hampton Falls
EMS Agencies Dispatched: N/A
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Hampton Fire Alarm office, located at Hampton Fire HQ, dispatches both Hampton and Hampton Falls.

Hanover Regional Communications Center

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Canaan, Cornish, Dorchester, Enfield, Grafton, Grantham, Hanover, Lyme, Orange, Orford, Plainfield, and Springfield (NH); Bradford, Corinth, Fairlee, Norwich, Stafford, Thetford, Tri-Village, Vershire, and West Fairlee (VT)
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Cornish Rescue, Enfield FAST Squad, and Grafton Ambulance (NH); Upper Valley Ambulance (VT)
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

Hanover Regional Communications Center, sometimes also called Upper Valley Dispatch, is a multi-agency dispatch center serving 13 communities in New Hampshire and 10 in Vermont. This includes 19 fire departments and four EMS agencies.

Hollis Communications Center

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Brookline, Hollis, and Mason
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Brookline Ambulance
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

Hollis Communications Center, located at Hollis PD, dispatches fire and EMS for Brookline, Hollis, and Mason.

Hudson Fire Alarm

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Fire alarm office
Fire Departments Dispatched: Hudson and Litchfield
EMS Agencies Dispatched: N/A
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Hudson Fire Alarm office, located at Hudson Fire HQ, dispatches both Hudson and Litchfield.

Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Consolidated dispatch
Fire Departments Dispatched: Alexandria, Alton, Andover, Ashland, Barnstead, Belmont, Bridgewater, Bristol, Campton-Thornton, Center Harbor, Danbury, Franklin, Gilford, Gilmanton, Hebron, Hill, Holderness, Laconia, Meredith, Moultonborough, New Hampton, Plymouth, Rumney, Sanbornton, Sandwich, Strafford, Tilton-Northfield, Warren, Waterville Valley, and Wentworth
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Andover EMS and Stewart’s Ambulance
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid, located in the state complex in Laconia, is a consolidated dispatch center serving the 34 communities that make up the Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid association. This includes 30 fire departments and two EMS agencies.

Londonderry Fire Alarm

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Fire alarm office
Fire Departments Dispatched: Hampstead, Londonderry, and Pelham
EMS Agencies Dispatched: N/A
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Londonderry Fire Alarm office, located at Londonderry Fire Central Station, dispatches for Hampstead, Londonderry, and Pelham.

Milford Area Communications Center

Status: Active
Founded: 1984
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Greenfield, Lyndeborough, Milford, Mont Vernon, and Wilton
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Milford Ambulance and Wilton Ambulance
Annual Calls Dispatched: 2,300

The Milford Area Communications Center, often called MACC Base, is located in Milford Town Hall and dispatches for the towns of Greenfield, Lyndeborough, Milford, Mont Vernon, and Wilton. In the past, MACC Base has also dispatched for Amherst, Brookline, and Greenville.

Learn more about MACC Base in this writeup.

New London Dispatch

Status: Active
Founded: 1975
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Newbury, New London, Sunapee, Sutton, and Wilmot
EMS Agencies Dispatched: New London Hospital EMS
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

New London Dispatch, located at New London PD, dispatches fire and EMS for five towns in New Hampshire, including those that are part of the Kearsarge Mutual Aid association. In the past, it has also dispatched for Andover, Bradford, Croydon, Grantham, and Springfield.

Newmarket Police Department

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Newfields and Newmarket
EMS Agencies Dispatched: N/A
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Newmarket Police Department handles fire and EMS dispatch for both Newfields and Newmarket.

Northern Borders Dispatch

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Colebrook, Errol, and Pittsburg (NH); Beecher Falls (VT)
EMS Agencies Dispatched: 45th Parallel EMS
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Northern Borders Dispatch center, located in Colebrook, dispatches fire and EMS for seven towns and five unincorporated townships in New Hampshire, a town and township in Maine, as well as two towns and one gore in Vermont.

North Country Dispatch

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Dalton, Groveton, Jefferson, Lancaster, Stark, Stratford, and Whitefield
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Groveton Ambulance
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The North Country Dispatch center, located in Lancaster, dispatches fire and EMS for seven towns in New Hampshire and EMS for three towns in Vermont.

Plaistow Police Department

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Atkinson and Plaistow
EMS Agencies Dispatched: N/A
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Plaistow Police Department handles fire and EMS dispatch for both Atkinson and Plaistow.

Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Brentwood, Candia, Danville, Deerfield, East Kingston, Epping, Fremont, Greenland, Kensington, Kingston, New Castle, Newington, Newton, North Hampton, Nottingham, Raymond, Rye, Sandown, South Hampton, and Stratham
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Raymond Ambulance
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center, located in Brentwood, is a consolidated dispatch center serving 20 communities, including many that are part of the Seacoast Chief Fire Officers Mutual Aid District.

Southwestern New Hampshire District Fire Mutual Aid

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Consolidated dispatch
Fire Departments Dispatched: Acworth, Alstead, Antrim, Bennington, Charlestown, Chesterfield, Dublin, Fitzwilliam, Francestown, Gilsum, Goshen, Hancock, Harrisville, Hinsdale, Jaffrey, Keene, Langdon, Lempster, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, New Ipswich, North Walpole, Peterborough, Richmond, Rindge, Roxbury, Spofford, Stoddard, Sullivan, Surry, Swanzey, Temple, Troy, Unity, Walpole, Westmoreland, and Winchester (NH); Chester, Dummerston, East Dover, Grafton, Guilford, Halifax, Jamaica, Londonderry, Marlboro, Newbrook, Peru, Putney, Readsboro, Rockingham, Royalson, South Londonderry, Springfield, Stratton, Townshend, Vernon, Wardsboro, West Dover, Westminster, Weston, Whitingham, Wilmington, Windham, and Winhall (VT)
EMS Agencies Dispatched: Alstead Ambulance, Cheshire County EMS, Jaffrey-Rindge Memorial Ambulance, and Lempster Rescue (NH); Deerfield Valley Ambulance, Golden Cross Ambulance, Rescue Inc., Stratton Mountain Rescue, and Whitingham First Response (VT)
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

Southwestern New Hampshire District Fire Mutual Aid, located in the old Keene Fire HQ, is a consolidated dispatch center serving 37 communities in New Hampshire and 26 in Vermont, all of which are members of the SWNH organization. This includes 66 fire departments and nine EMS agencies.

Strafford County Sheriff’s Department

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Durham, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, and New Durham
EMS Agencies Dispatched: N/A
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The Strafford County Sheriff’s Office in Dover dispatches fire and EMS for five towns.

UNH Communications Center

Status: Active
Founded: TBD
Type: Multi-agency dispatch center
Fire Departments Dispatched: Barrington, Lee, and Madbury
EMS Agencies Dispatched: McGregor Ambulance
Annual Calls Dispatched: TBD

The UNH Communications Center, a division of the University of New Hampshire Police Department in Durham, dispatches fire and EMS for three towns.