Fire prevention and suppression activities were first mentioned in town reports in 1915, when residents voted to spend $125 on a fire extinguisher. A number of fire wardens were appointed and some sort of building, land, and equipment was procured to supplement the original investment within the next couple of years. By 1928, the town once again met to discuss “what action [we] will take in regard to better fire protection.” When 1930 rolled around, the department had purchased a fire engine pump and hose, but it is unclear what type of vehicle carried these to scenes.
In 1931 the town voted to lease a dedicated fire truck and looked into purchasing AR Company land to use in housing it. AR Company likely refers to the Androscoggin River Company, which built dams and made other environmental improvements in the area. The plan was to build a shelter for the truck where the dining camp was located, but no further information can be found as to whether this happened. It is likely the plan fell through, because in 1933 the town voted to buy the truck outright and also raise funds to build a place to house it. This seemed to happen, but no information exists as to where the fire station was.
Another fire truck appears to have been purchased between 1933 and 1941, because the town report in the latter year mentioned trading in “fire trucks” to raise money for newer units. Whether this happened is unknown. In 1957, the department purchased a brand-new Moody fire truck on an unknown chassis.
The following year in 1958, the department built a new fire house near the intersection of NH Route 16 and NH Route 26. Following this development, no history has been found relating to the fire department until 1979, when the town voted to buy a used fire truck. What truck this was is not clear, although it was likely a tanker or pumper-tanker as the 1980 town report listed a “new tanker truck.”
In 1988, the department added an addition to the fire house, turning it into three bays and allowed the Errol Rescue Squad to have a dedicated space in town to house their future ambulance.
In 1999, the town of Newfields, New Hampshire donated a 1970 Ford/American LaFrance engine to the department to run as Errol’s first-due apparatus. This truck had a 750 GPM pump and 1000 gallon tank and was likely assigned to Engine 2.
The department had outgrown the three-bay station by the mid-2000s and in 2008 they built a new, six-bay metal garage that would better serve them into the new century. In 2009, the department purchased a 1986 Mack R tanker from Beecher Falls, Vermont. Painted lime green, the tanker had a 1000 GPM pump and 2000 gallon tank. It was assigned to Tanker 2. That same year they purchased a 1980 International/Howe with 750 GPM pump and 750 gallon tank from the Friends of the Errol Fire Department, which was made up of members of the department and associated members of the community. The apparatus had previously served in Conway, New Hampshire. It was assigned as Engine 1.
The department took ownership of a blue 2008 Dodge pickup that was used as a utility. It’s not sure if this was bought new or used.
In 2010, an “old Ford tanker” was refurbished. It’s unclear which truck this is in reference to. In 2011, the department bought another used apparatus, a 1992 International/Central States with unknown size pump and tank that originally served Tuftonboro, NH. It was assigned to Engine 3. The year after, in 2012, the department stated it had recently sold three fire department vehicles, but it’s not clear what they were—likely the 1970 Ford/American LaFrance was disposed of at this time.
In 2013 the department was gifted a Boston Whaler boat and trailer for use in water rescues, and the department also purchased a used 1985 heavy rescue from Denver, Pennsylvania. Built on a GMC 7000 chassis, the AWD unit had Emergency-One bodywork.
In 2019, with the dissolution of Magalloway Plantation as an incorporated town in Maine, the department took over fire protection for the residents of that location. When this occurred, Errol obtained ownership of a 1986 Mack MC/3D engine with 1500 GPM pump and 750 gallon tank. It was placed into service as Engine 4. In 2020 the department added to the fleet again, purchasing a 1980 GMC/E-One pumper tanker from Mashpee, Massachusetts. This apparatus was assigned to Engine 2.
The Dodge utility was replaced in 2020 as well with the donation of 2017 Chevrolet 3/4 ton pickup, which was upfitted with a Reading body. The following year the department took delivery of a loaned 1967 Jeep Kaiser M715 forestry unit from the Department of Forests and Lands. It had previously served Randolph, New Hampshire. The department put hundreds of hours into the truck, repainting it and getting it in service with a 125 GPM pump, 200 gallon tank, and 10 gallon foam tank.
Due to the size of the GMC that was serving as Rescue 1, the department decided to replace it in 2022 with a newer rescue. This time the department purchased a 2005 Freightliner FL M-2 with EVI bodywork that had been serving in the Lendora Fire Company in Gloucester Township, New Jersey. The unit also came equipped with an air cascade system and plentiful scene lighting. This allowed Rescue 1 to serve as the region’s rehab truck on confirmed building fires.
In 2022, the 1986 Mack from Magalloway Plantation, Maine had multiple issues and the decision was made to take it out of service. The department was able to find a replacement for this truck by the end of the year, and in 2023, a 2012 International/Rosenbauer pumper with 1250 GPM pump, 750 gallon tank, and 30 gallon foam tank was purchased used from Gardner, Massachusetts. It was assigned to Engine 1.
In 2025, the department is expecting delivery of a brand-new Metalfab tanker on an unknown chassis. The apparatus was purchased with the help of a FEMA grant, and will potentially be the town’s first new apparatus since 1957’s Moody.
