New Salem Fire Department

11/09/2025

Overnight Saturday, Engine 3 responded to Amherst to assist their department and other mutual aid partners with a large residential apartment complex fire. In a shuttle with 11 other water tenders from Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties, we made 26 round trips from three pressurized hydrant fill sites to supplement the water supply on scene and were back in New Salem at about 9:30 AM.

Amherst Fire regularly assists us, especially with their ambulances, and we were happy to assist them on this incident, which would be overwhelming for any fire department, no matter the size.

08/18/2025

We hope to see you there!

Save the date! The emergency services parade kicks off three weeks from today at 11am.

Shortly after the parade beginning at 1pm there will be a plethora of fun family activities in front of the grandstand!

04/13/2025

Just after 7:00 last evening, we were notified of a fully involved car fire on Fay Road. The first arriving fire officer determined a vehicle had struck a tree, which subsequently brought live power lines to the ground, blocking the road and creating additional hazards beyond the fire. No operator was in the immediate area. Mindful of the fire, power lines, and tree, command quickly checked the car and found no occupants.

Once the fire was extinguished by the E2 crew and the vehicle winched off the hillside, members searched the immediate area then combed through the debris with state troopers to determine any identifying information about the car. Thanks to some skillful investigative work by State Police dispatchers and troopers, the operator was safely located a few hours later.

04/13/2025

As we do each year, the department assisted the Athol Fire Department and Orange, MA Fire Rescue EMS with the annual River Rat Race on Saturday. We provide automatic mutual aid to South Athol as well as safety for paddlers around the Daniel Shays Highway bridge, which is a navigational hazard for canoes in the race.

The event is a cooperative response by Athol, Orange, Royalston Fire & EMS Association, Petersham Fire Department, Phillipston Fire & EMS, Northfield Fire, the Northfield Dive Team, regional 911 dispatchers, radio technicians, and local, State and Environmental Police. Great job by all.

03/03/2025

Earlier this afternoon we were requested to assist at a horse farm where a 1,750 pound horse had slipped on ice and needed assistance getting onto its feet. Command requested Royalston Fire & EMS and their specialized large animal equipment and technicians to the scene via Shelburne Control dispatchers.

New Salem and Royalston crews worked together with the farm owners and a veterinarian to get the horse upright, which it ultimately did on its own. Thanks also to the Highway Department for standing by with a large front end loader in case further assistance was needed.

01/15/2025

The open burning season runs from January 15 - May 1. All permits must be applied for online: www.fcburnpermits.com

You must have a permit to burn, and they must be applied
for each day you wish to burn.
Burning hours are 10:00AM-4:00PM.
Fires be 75’ from any structure.
Fires must be attended at all times.
Brush is the only item which can be burned — no trash, construction debris, furniture, etc.
Brush should be under four inches (4”) in diameter.

Keep fires reasonable. The fire department will be the final determination of what is “reasonable”.

January 15: Weather conditions are not favorable for burning today.

Permits are only issued between 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM. Permits are only issued ON THE DAY that you wish to burn and are valid for that day only. No permits are issued IN ADVANCE due to the potential for changing weather conditions.

12/07/2024

On December 6 at 1:59 PM, Shelburne Control received multiple 911 calls indicating a multiple-vehicle, serious injury crash on Daniel Shays Highway (Route 202). Engine 2 and Rescue 1 responded. Reports from the scene indicated entrapment in at least two vehicles. Orange Fire was requested to respond, along with their ambulances, for additional manpower and another set of the Jaws of Life. Ambulances were also requested from Athol and Amherst. State Police patrols, detectives, and reconstruction troopers, and MassDOT also responded.

Responding personnel pronounced two individuals deceased on scene. An occupant of another vehicle was freed by New Salem and Orange firefighters using the Jaws of Life, transported by Orange Fire to Athol Memorial Hospital, and subsequently flown to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester by UMass Life Flight. Five additional occupants of the vehicles were transported to hospitals.

After investigation, the vehicles were removed by Dale's Auto. This was a challenging, lengthy incident to manage and handle, and all personnel did an excellent job on scene. Thanks to all who responded to assist us and the dedicated dispatchers at Shelburne Control who were able to organize resources from multiple communities. The highway was reopened just after 8:00 PM.

Questions or information can be directed to the Northwestern District Attorney's Office or State Police assigned to the Athol barracks.

12/07/2024

Route 202 is reopened (7:50 PM).

12/06/2024

Route 202 closed north of Prescott Road in Shutesbury and south of New Salem center for a serious injury crash, anticipated to be several hours (3:00 PM Friday).

11/26/2024

Due to recent rains, higher humidity and cooling temperatures, per order of the Fire Chief, New Salem and Wendell will end its outdoor burning ban effective Tuesday at midnight. Residents may again have small, contained cooking fires. If residents have questions as to what constitutes a safe fire pit, please contact the fire station.

A reminder the outdoor brush burning season begins January 15 and ends May 1. Permits are required from fcburnpermits.com.

Trash and debris are never allowed to be burned. Illegal burning may result in fines.

We thank you for your cooperation in what was an extremely busy fall fire season. As part of the mutual aid system, New Salem and Wendell firefighters on the Franklin County Hand Crew, which is specially trained to fight wildfires with difficult access and requiring extensive hiking, deployed to fires in Holden, Monson, Northfield, Warwick, Great Barrington, and Sheffield this fall.

Joseph Cuneo
Fire Chief
978-544-3345

11/17/2024

We are extending the outdoor ban on fires through November 23.