Plaistow Junior Firefighters

06/15/2026

What a fantastic Sunday celebrating the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of the Plaistow Junior Firefighters!

Over the past 9–10 months, many have joined the Plaistow Jr. Firefighter program for the first time, and, along with returning Jr. Firefighters, they all have gained valuable knowledge about firefighting, fire safety, teamwork, and leadership. Along the way, they also created lasting memories and friendships that will stay with them for years to come.

The course concluded with a cookout and awards ceremony, where Captain Esme Johnston reflected on many of the great moments shared throughout the year. Instructor Nesbitt our Program Coordinator and Board Chair reminded everyone, especially the parents, just how proud the Plaistow Junior Firefighter Board Members and instructors are of each and every participant and the tremendous growth they have shown.

A special thank you goes out to all of the parents whose support, encouragement, and commitment have played such an important role in making the program so successful.

To every Junior Firefighter: thank you for always giving 100%, being eager to learn, dedicating your Sunday afternoons to training, and spending your time during the week studying Firefighter I/II material. Your hard work, determination, and positive attitudes have not gone unnoticed.

Congratulations on a successful year! Keep working hard, continue learning, and never stop chasing your goals. The future of the fire service is bright because of young men and women like you.

Looking to learn more or to donate to Plaistow Jr. Firefighters, visit:

https://plaistow-junior-firefighters.org

06/13/2026

Junior Captain Johnston was joined at her graduation today by Plaistow Chief Knutsen.

This young lady has shown exceptional leadership this past year, going above and beyond to help make this program the best it can be.

So today we celebrate you Captain Johnston.

Thank you for all you do. The world is a better place because you are in it, and we wish you continued success in all you chose to do. 🔥

06/08/2026

Yesterday was the final day of class for the 2025-2026 Plaistow Junior Firefighters.

It was only fitting that we end the year doing station chores. The men and women who work at the Plaistow Fire Department have been extremely kind, helpful, and welcoming. It was important for us to give back to the people and place that has given so much to us.

We also spent the afternoon preparing for the evening ELO presentations. Almost half of the class took advantage of our partnership with the high school to earn extra credits.

At the end of the day, we went around the class, and many, including the instructors, gave each other praise for the hard work and dedication everyone has put in to this program over the last seven months.

This year we will not take the summer off completely. Instead, we will host several full day training events focused on the areas cadets usually struggle in when they attend the NH Fire Academy.

Next week we will be handing out certificates of completion for those who stuck with it all year, sharing some food and laughs, then planning for next year.

Thank you to all who support this program.

Plaistow Junior Firefighters
Board of Directors

Chris Nesbitt
Program Coordinator / Board Chair

06/08/2026

Congrats in order !!

Today we had 8 students from our program, who also attend Timberlane Regional High School, give presentations on their ELO (Extended Learning Opportunity) and receive extra credits for their work.

We are thankful for our partnership with the School and it's administration, especially Assistant Principal of Alternative Pathways, Ms. Foley.

06/01/2026

What a year for the Plaistow Junior Firefighters!

This was our first full year with a complete training program, and we just finished going over the end of year surveys our students filled out. We are proud to share how it went.

Our students rated the program a 4.2 out of 5. Every single one of them said the training was useful and interesting. More than 8 out of 10 said they feel more confident in their firefighting skills than when they started. They also told us they felt safe, respected, and ready during every drill.

When we asked about their favorite part, the same two answers came up again and again. The hands on training, like vehicle extrication and learning to work a hydrant, and the friendships they built along the way.

A big thank you to our students, our instructors, and everyone who supports this program. You make it possible.

We are already working hard to make next year even better. Stay tuned.

05/27/2026

Congratulations to three of our former juniors who have earned their Fire Science Degree from Lakes Region Community College

Not only have they gone through the fire academy and became certified firefighters, they all hold medical licenses and serve their community.

Shout out to these three great young adults: 🔥

Ally Galvin

Jacob Raymond

Keenan Hagerty

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, the Plaistow Junior Firefighters pause to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice is the reason we are able to gather, train, and serve our community in freedom. We owe them a debt that can never truly be repaid, only remembered and lived up to.

To every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman, and Guardian who never came home, thank you. To the Gold Star families who carry that loss every single day, we see you and we stand with you. Your loved ones are not forgotten in this firehouse or in this town.

Many in the fire service wear two uniforms in their lifetime, first the one our nation gives them and then the one their community does. That bond between military service and emergency service runs deep, and it is part of why today matters so much to us. The same courage, discipline, and willingness to put others first connects the warrior on a distant battlefield to the firefighter on a local street.

To our cadets standing tall today, remember this. The uniform you are learning to wear comes with a long line of people behind it who paid the highest price so that you could put it on. Honor them by how you train, how you serve, and how you live.

God bless the fallen. God bless their families. And God bless the United States of America.

05/25/2026

Plaistow Jr. Firefighters trained on vehicle extrication techniques involving multiple vehicles and learned how to safely handle motor vehicle accident scenarios on May 24, 2026.

The incredible training was led by guest instructors Mark Cook, Ethan Cook, Abigail Varney, and Catherine Warnock. Thank you to all of the instructors for the outstanding training and dedication to working with the junior firefighters.

A huge thank you as well to Windfield Recycling and Charlie Nesbitt for providing vehicles and a safe location to train, Atkinson Fire Department for donating extrication tools, Atkinson House of Pizza & Roast Beef for the delicious pizza, and REHAB FIVE for donating rehab supplies and a pop-up tent.

The support from the community and surrounding departments helps provide valuable hands-on training and experience for the next generation of firefighters.

05/24/2026

Great day of training... More pics to come !!

05/24/2026