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Permit Required for Open Burning!!

Reminder to Amherst residents that without snow cover of 100 feet in all directions burning permits are required for camp fires and burning of brush.   Despite the mud and high water levels in the rivers from melting snow spring can produce high levels of wild land fire danger.   Although the ground can be wet most of the vegetation is dormant and dry from the long winter.   Typically the first few weeks without snow produce the highest danger as we wait for spring and April rain to turn the vegetation green.

Permits are issued when weather and fire danger levels are favorable.   Permits can be obtained by land owners or with written permission from a land owner at the Amherst Communications Center, 175 Amherst Street (within police station).  For those that kindle fires on a regular basis a seasonal permit can be issued for the year.   Seasonal permits require an inspection that can be scheduled by contacting Amherst Fire Department Fire Inspector Matthew Conley 673-1545 ext 202

About Amherst Fire Department

AFD is what the fire service considers a combination department.   Combination meaning the department is comprised of two full time and one part time person that work weekdays all remaining members are paid-on-call, neither fire station is staffed 24/7.  The Fire Chief is full-time and is responsible for managing the Fire Department, day-to-day operations, responding to emergencies and serves as the towns Emergency Management Director for major disasters.   The department has two Deputy Fire Chief’s.   One full-time Deputy of Fire Prevention responsible for all life safety inspections and permitting as required by state law.   He is also in charge of all fire prevention education programs and responds to emergencies.   The second Deputy Chief and all remaining members of the department are what the fire service considers paid-on-call members.  Each paid-on-call member has a full-time career outside the fire service and chooses to serve the community and receive compensation for his/her time.   These members received an annual stipend ($125) and get paid an hourly rate ($11.58) for the time they spend at emergencies.    The average Amherst Firefighter earns less then $2,000 annually.  Although they receive some compensation these members are essentially volunteers.   They are not compensated for the time they spend training, attending department meetings, maintaining equipment or performing non-emergency functions such as fire prevention education.

The Town of Amherst is one of the few remaining towns in the State of NH with a population over 10,000 that continues to provide fire protection and emergency response to its citizens with a predominantly paid-on-call (volunteer) fire department.   This is extraordinary and is due to the pride-spirit-tradition and dedication of the Amherst Fire Department members!

Applications for Call Firefighters are always welcome. Call or stop by the Central Fire Station during normal business hours if you are interested in serving your community as a firefighter.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE POSITION OF CALL FIREFIGHTER. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A CHALLENGING POSITION SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY, CALL 673-1545 OR STOP BY THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION
M-F FROM 9-4.

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