Campton-Thornton Fire Rescue

05/25/2026

05/17/2026

Here are some photos from yesterday's water supply training with Woodstock Fire Department, NH and Lincoln Fire Department NH. Attendees worked on drafting, filling tankers, shuttling and utilizing porta-tanks. Later, turbo drafts (a device that utilizes a hoseline from the pump, to create a venturi, forcing water into a supply hose, connected to the pump inlet) were utilized to draft from shallow areas of the river, where traditional drafting is not possible.

CTFD Engines 1 and 3 participated.





Campton Thornton Professional Firefighters Local 5445

05/16/2026

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by yesterday's tragic fire in Searsmont, Maine, and with the family of Morrill FF Andrew Cross.

05/15/2026

At 1:43 pm on Thursday May 14, 2026, Campton-Thornton Fire Rescue, Campton Police Department, Plymouth Fire-Rescue, Ashland Fire Department, Woodstock Fire Department, NH, Waterville Valley Department of Public Safety and Rumney Fire Department were called to a reported Building Fire on Turnpike Road in Campton.

This was an additional call for CTFD, as Ambulance 1 was returning from the hospital after a prior medical emergency and Ambulance 2 was arriving at the hospital after a separate medical emergency at the time of the fire.

Upon response, dispatchers with Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid, advised that New Hampshire 911 had received a call reporting that a homeowner had returned home, to find heavy smoke in their residence. They advised that all occupants were out, but there were animals still inside.

Given the remote location and inclement weather, a second alarm was requested bringing in additional personnel and apparatus from several nearby towns including Holderness, NH Fire Department, New Hampton Fire Department, Hebron, Meredith and Alexandria(who was canceled while en route). Center Harbor Fire Department provided coverage at CTFD Station 1.

On arrival, crews located a single family home with heavy smoke and fire showing. Plymouth Engine 4 stretched a handline into the first floor of the residence to knock down the flames. Moments later, CTFD Engine 1 arrived and stretched a hoseline to the basement.

Upon the arrival of Ambulance 2, its crew began tending to a dog, which was rescued prior to FD arrival. They administered oxygen via an animal specific mask. The dog was later taken to a vet hospital by the owner, for further treatment.

As additional mutual aid companies arrived, they assisted with suppression and overhaul operations. The fire was deemed under control about 1 hour after arrival. Crews remained on scene for approximately 3 hours, before clearing.

One firefighter was evaluated, but was medically cleared at the scene and returned to work. No other injuries were reported.

Two cats and one dog perished in the fire. The second dog is currently being treated at an area veterinary hospital and is reportedly in stable condition.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by CTFD, but is not considered suspicious.

"We want to remind everyone to make sure they have properly installed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their home," said Chief Daniel Defosses who went on to say, "lack of detectors has been a factor in many fire related deaths and injuries statewide this year." (It should be noted that working alarms were present in this residence.) He also added, "Our hearts go out to everyone effected by this fire."

On scene CTFD units:
Engine 1, Engine 3, Rescue 1, Car 1, Ambulance 1, Ambulance 2, Forestry 2.







Campton Thornton Professional Firefighters Local 5445

05/07/2026

At 1 pm on Thursday May 7, 2026, Campton-Thornton Fire Rescue and Campton Police Department were requested to assist NH Fish and Game biologists retrieve a tranquilized bear cub approximately 65 feet up in a tree. It's safe to say it was "bearly" hanging on.

Two cubs had been without their mother for a couple of days, prompting the call to NHFG by concerned neighbors. Biologists determined that the situation necessitated intervention, due to concerns for the cubs health. They were able to tranquilize both cubs and retrieve one from the tree, however the other remained too high for them to access.

CTFD companies, who were just clearing another emergency call in Thornton, responded. After assessing the situation, it was determined that the rescue would be a real "bear," without the right equipment. A tower truck was requested from Waterville Valley Department of Public Safety and responded within minutes.

Once on scene, two members of WVDPS, along with a biologist, used the bucket to access the location of the cub and safely remove them from the tree. This is the part where we point out that the bear cub was rescued by the "Fire Pigs," as they are known, for providing Fire, Police and EMS coverage for Waterville Valley.

The cub was then brought back to the ground, where several people got an up close look at the cub, before it was secured in a crate, with its sibling, for the ride to a rehabilitation center.

We would like to thank our neighbors from WVDPS for the assistance.

As always, do not approach wild animals.







Campton Thornton Professional Firefighters Local 5445

04/30/2026

Just before 10 am on Wednesday April 29, 2026, Campton-Thornton Fire Rescue was called to a reported motor vehicle fire on I-93 Northbound near Exit 27.

Engine 3 and Car 1 responded.

While en route, they were updated that a one ton dump truck, loaded with firewood, was on fire. Crews had smoke visible from several miles away, so an engine company from Plymouth Fire-Rescue was requested.

Upon arrival, crews located a well involved vehicle along with a Brush Fire about 1000 feet prior to the scene, in the median. Engine 3 proceeded to and began extinguishing the vehicle fire. Car 1 took a position at the brush fire.

The brush fire began spreading rapidly, due to dry conditions and wind. Within a few minutes, the fire grew from a few square feet to approximately 1/4 acre. A First Alarm Outside Fire assignment was requested bringing in additional personnel and apparatus from several nearby towns, including Ashland and Holderness, NH Fire Department. Woodstock Fire Department, NH responded, but was canceled while en route. CTFD Station #1 was covered by Waterville Valley Department of Public Safety.

Plymouth Engine 2 arrived at the brush fire and stretched a hoseline to begin knocking down the fire. Due to the heavy smoke condition obscuring visibility of motorists on the highway, and concern that they may strike apparatus or personnel, I-93 Southbound and Northbound were closed for a short period.

CTFD Forestry 2 arrived on the southbound side, along with a Forest Ranger from NH Forest and Lands, who was in the area. They began stretching a booster reel line and knocking down fire from the southbound lane.

Once the bulk of the brush fire was knocked down, crews began mopping up and one lane of each side of I-93 were reopened.

Around the same time, the vehicle fire was extinguished and brought under control.

Crews cleared the scene of the brush fire a short time later. Personnel remained on scene of the vehicle fire, until it was removed, then remaining apparatus cleared the scene.

It appears that as the truck was traveling north on I-93, when it experienced a mechanical malfunction, causing a piece of the transfer case to break off and skid into the grassy median, where it ignited a fire. The truck continued another 1000 feet, before finding a safe place to pull over. The vehicle quickly erupted in flames. The occupant deployed 2 fire extinguishers, but the fire was too intense and quickly engulfed the entire cab. No injuries were reported.

NH Department of Transportation and NH State Police assisted at the scene.







Campton Thornton Professional Firefighters Local 5445

04/28/2026

You may have noticed the station lit up in red. We are participating in the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's "Light the Night," for fallen firefighters. We specifically want to remember Captain David Lavoie, who passed away in 2019.






Campton Thornton Professional Firefighters Local 5445