The Meriden and Plainfield Volunteer Fire Departments are now the Town of Plainfeild Fire Department. In addition to your tax dollars, our fund raisers, an occasional grant and your tax-deductible donations help support the many services we provide. Except for the Chief, all of our members are volunteers.Check us out by calling any officer or by dropping by at one of our business meetings or training drills! Or complete an application! We are your department. Please support us so we can support you!
Fire Permits:
Residents of the Town of Plainfield may obtain a burn permit either online by going to: https://nhdflweb.sovsportsnet.net/, or by contacting the Warden or a Deputy Warden. Burn permits obtained through the online system carry a small fee ($3) that goes to the web developer, not the FD.
Note: Check out our Burn Permit FAQ before you burn!
PFD Community Service:
Home fire-safety checks are conducted as requested by members of the community. Contact the chief or deputy chief if you are interested in this service.
Along with the Cornish Rescue Squad, VFD members respond to medical and traffic emergencies -- day or night!
Smoke detectors are provided to those home owners who need and cannot afford them.
Volunteers provide fire prevention and fire safety education to the Plainfield Elementary School students.
Volunteers and equipment are provided to insure the safety of our children on Halloween. Trucks with lights flashing are placed at each end of town to slow traffic. Volunteers give out candy and help oversee the house to house search for goodies.
Our volunteers respond to assist fire departments in other communities as requested.
History
The Town of Plainfield Fire Department was established in 2019. Prior to 2019 the Town was served by two private volunteer fire departments, the Meriden Volunteer Fire Department and the Plainfield Volunteer Fire Department. Both volunteer fire departments have deep roots and had been in existence serving the Town for more than sixty years. Information about the two departments can be found in the Town of Plainfield History book, Choice White Pines and Good Land, available at either local library. The Town of Plainfield Fire Department serves the Town from two fire stations located in each of the town’s two main villages. The department owns and maintains a fleet of eight vehicles including three engines, two utility trucks, a tanker, a ladder truck and a UTV.
Fire Stations
Meriden Station
The Meriden Station was originally built in 1954. It originally consisted of two bays. The building was added to in 1977. The three bay addition currently accommodates four trucks and a UTV. The original station building was remodeled in 1992 into a training room with an office for the Chief, a bathroom and a laundry room. A small addition for storage was added in 1994.
Plainfield Station
The Plainfield Station was built in 2001. The building has three bays for apparatus and a large training room located in the back of the building. The building has many features including an emergency operations center (EOC), large commercial kitchen, areas for laundry and tools and two offices. The Station is used for many community events such as the senior luncheon, bone builders, private functions as well as the famous PVFD spaghetti suppers.
Apparatus
PFD Engine 1
PFD Engine 1 is a 1997 Freightliner/Dingee pumper. The truck is equipped with a 1250 gpm pump, a 750 gallon water tank and a four door cab.
PFD Tanker
PFD Tanker is a 2012 Kenworth/Dingee tanker. The tanker has a 750 gpm PTO pump and carries 3000 gallons of water. It is one of the largest tankers in the Upper Valley.
PFD Utility 1
PFD Utility 1 is a 2004 GMC 3500 that was donated to the department by TransCanada in 2015. The utility body carries various tools and equipment including forest firefighting tools as well as cones for traffic control. The truck also carries a four bottle 6000 psi cascade breathing air system for refilling SCBA bottles.
PFD Engine 2
PFD Engine 2 is a 1995 International/Dingee pumper. The truck is equipped with a 1250 gpm pump and 1000 gallons of water. The truck has a four person cab.
PFD Engine 3
PFD Engine 3 is a 2017 Spartan/Dingee custom cab pumper/tanker. The truck carries 1500 gallons of water and has a 1250 gpm pump. The truck has a six person cab with SCBA seats. Engine 3 was purchased with a grant awarded to the Meriden Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $328,000. The MVFD contributed an additional $50,000 toward the purchase.
PFD Ladder 1
PFD Ladder 1 is a 1997 Eone 110’ ladder. The truck was purchased from the Dunmore PA. FD in 2016.
PFD Utility 2
PFD Utility 2 is a 2014 Chevrolet 3500/Dingee utility truck. The utility body is equipped with an onboard 5000 watt generator and a remotely operated light tower. The truck also carries all of the Meriden Station forest fire fighting tools and hazardous material cleanup supplies. A three bottle 6000 psi cascade breathing air system for refilling SCBA bottles is also located onboard.
Plainfield UTV 1
Plainfield UTV 1 was purchased in 2019 with assistance from an anonymous donor. The UTV is a Polaris XP 1000 crew cab model. The UTV is equipped with an Kimtek skid unit that has a 75 gallon water tank, a Honda water pump, hose reel, and a stokes basket for carrying injured people. The UTV is designed to assist in wildland firefighting operations, search and rescue, and back country medical transport.