FIRE DEPARTMENT

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Chief


FIRE DEPARTMENT

Main Station
286 Daniel Webster Highway
Meredith, NH

Meredith Center Station
101 Meredith Center Road
Meredith, NH

The Meredith Fire Department protects approximately 6,000 residents living in an area of 53.7 square miles. During the peak tourist season the population can more than triple. They operate out of 2 stations that protect a primarily residential area, and house a fire boat at the Y-Landing Marina on Powers Road. The department is a public department, whose members are on a paid on call status, providing the Town of Meredith with fire suppression, search and rescue, extrication, and Haz-Mat services. The department "Teams" include over 40 department members, the auxiliary, and the explorer post.

Fire Permits
State law requires that anyone who kindles a fire out of doors needs to hold a valid permit unless there is adequate snow cover. It is very easy to obtain a permit; you need to be a landowner (or have written permission of the landowner) and you must be at least 18 years of age. A permit can be obtained, at no cost, through the downtown fire station, Town Hall, Y-Landing Marina, or the Meredith Center Store during their normal business hours. You must show a photo ID such as a driver's license. Permits are good for up to three days, beginning with date of issue. Seasonal permits for certain types of fires are also available. Violators of the permit requirements are subject to fines by the State in the amount of up to $2,000 and/or a year in jail. It should be kept in mind, even with a valid permit, that any damage caused as a result of a kindled fire becomes the obligation of the party responsible for kindling the fire.

A law effective January 1, 2003 prohibits residential trash burning. What this means is that no longer will "incinerator" permits be issued, which in the past were the primary method used for residential trash burning. The local permit issuers will still issue a permit (usually on a seasonal basis) for a "burn barrel"; however, this burn barrel permit is being used by the land owner to more safely burn natural debris, such as twigs and small branches, and excludes the burning of residential trash.