Atkinson Fire Department

The Atkinson Fire Department is excited to announce that we have taken delivery of our new fire engine!

Over the next several weeks, our personnel will be completing factory training, mounting tools and equipment, and conducting operational training to ensure the apparatus is fully prepared for service. Once this process is complete, the engine will officially be placed into service to protect our community.

This apparatus was approved by Atkinson voters in 2023, and we are grateful for the continued financial and professional support of our residents. Your investment in the Fire Department allows us to provide our firefighters with modern, reliable equipment that enhances both emergency response capabilities and firefighter safety.

We look forward to sharing more updates as we prepare the new engine for service, and schedule push-in ceremony with the community. Thank you, sales rep Nick Hilton, Allegiance Fire Rescue, & Pierce!

Wednesday evening at 5:54 PM, the Atkinson Fire Department was dispatched to a serious motor vehicle accident initially reported as a four-car incident with injuries, at the intersection of Main St. and Hilldale Ave.

Our on-duty crew of three firefighters/EMTs responded immediately from the station. With the recent increase in daytime staffing to three, both Atkinson Ambulance 2 and Squad 1 were able to respond immediately, allowing critical personnel and equipment to arrive on scene within minutes. On arrival crews found a two-vehicle crash with significant damage.

Additionally, Atkinson Call firefighters responded to the station, staffing our second ambulance, and staffing an engine company to assist at the scene mitigating all hazards. Firefighters and EMS personnel provided patient care, and two individuals were transported by Atkinson Fire to local hospitals for further care and evaluation.

During this incident Atkinson Fire also responded to a fire alarm activation on the other side of town.

This call serves shows how quickly emergencies can occur and the importance of having trained personnel available to respond. We wish those transported a speedy recovery and thank our partners Atkinson PD, Plaistow ALS, Plaistow dispatch for a well-managed incident.

With the support of the Board of Selectmen, the Atkinson Fire Department this month began staffing a third FF/EMT on duty Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

This added staffing is already making a difference!

Earlier this week, a resident suffered a heart attack and called 911. Our on-duty crew of 3 responded immediately from the station and arrived on scene in less than three minutes. Plaistow ALS was dispatched simultaneously and provided critical paramedic-level care. With three firefighters available, the patient was quickly assessed and recognition of the cardiac event was made, patient moved to the ambulance, and transport was initiated within minutes while coordinating care with, Plaistow ALS.

Crews transmitted a 12-lead EKG to Parkland Medical Center, allowing the hospital to activate its cardiac catheterization lab before the patient's arrival and prepare for definitive treatment.

We commend the family for immediately calling 911, NH 911 call center, Plaistow dispatchers, Atkinson police, FF/EMTs & paramedics, and hospital staff for their teamwork, professionalism, and immediate recognition of this major cardiac event. This incident highlights how a coordinated emergency response system and proper staffing can make a critical difference when every minute matters.

The Atkinson Fire Department congratulates Call Firefighter Logan Benko on successfully completing his Firefighter I and Firefighter II certifications and graduating from the York County Fire Academy in Maine last night.

In addition to these accomplishments, FF Benko graduated from high school two weeks ago, making this an especially significant milestone in his life. Achieving both his fire service certifications and a high school diploma in the same year demonstrates an outstanding level of dedication, hard work, and commitment.

Congratulations, FF Benko, on these major achievements! We are proud to have you as a member of the Atkinson Fire Department and look forward to your continued success in the fire service and beyond.

Atkinson Fire is excited to recognize Career Firefighters Nick Mitton and Ryan McKenna for recently achieving certification as Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMTs).

Nick and Ryan successfully completed over 180 hours of coursework, practical skills training, and national certification testing to earn this advanced level of EMS certification.
As AEMTs, their expanded scope of practice includes intravenous (IV) access, medication administration, advanced airway management, cardiac monitoring and more.

Congratulations to FF Mitton and FF McKenna on this accomplishment. Their dedication to advancing their skills strengthens our department's capabilities and helps us better serve our community.

This week, our department proudly celebrated the one-year anniversary of becoming the Town’s primary transport agency. This milestone marks a significant chapter in the continued growth and evolution of the Atkinson Fire Department.

I am proud to report that our first year has been a great success, with Atkinson ambulance transporting over 400 patients to area hospitals. That success is a direct reflection of the dedication and professionalism of our members, the strong collaboration with Plaistow ALS and our area mutual aid partners, the ongoing support of our town officials, and the trust our residents place in us.

We do not take this responsibility lightly and fully understand the commitment and accountability these duties require. To successfully implement this operational change, a warrant article was overwhelmingly supported by the community to add staffing in 2025, and this funding is now being incorporated into the 2026 operating budget. We have also presented two Fire Department warrant articles, one to replace our 2011 command vehicle with funds already raised for this purpose, and a second to fund our capital reserve for future capital purchases. These measures ensure we have the proper equipment, staffing, and resources necessary to perform our duties safely and effectively.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about your Fire Department, please stop in for a visit or contact Chief Murphy at 603-362-5611.
Thank you for your continued trust and support as we remain committed to serving our community.