History

Learn more about the special events planned for commemorating the Portsmouth NH 400th anniversary that are being created by the Portsmouth Fire Department and the Federal and Mechanic Fire Societies.

Historical Notes of Fires, Firefighters, Apparatus, and Events June 1696 through December 2015

This collection of historical notes celebrates the spirit and traditions of the City of Portsmouth Fire Department. Contained here is the most extensive history compiled on the department to date. Throughout these pages one will explore events, people, circumstances and technologies that when woven together create the rich and remarkable story of the state’s oldest fire department. Also included are accounts that speak to the character of the firefighters and the community they have dedicated themselves to protect. It should be noted that not every event or account of the department is included, and there will be firemen and historians, past and present, that will note absent pieces of the story. Nevertheless, the notes of fires, firefighters, apparatus, and events chronicled within these pages should provide an exceptional historical representation of the City of Portsmouth Fire Department. Unless otherwise referenced, information was obtained through department records and city reports.