1916 – 1923
First Permanent Chief
First Full Time
Hampton Beach Fire Chief.
After the serious fire which occurred in September 1915, the first major change took place within the Hampton Beach Fire Department. At that time, the local fire department was not equipped to handle major fires, which resulted in help from nearby towns. So the Spring of 1916, a reorganization was made, and the commissioners appointed Alexander H. Brown as the first permanent chief. They also ordered the first motorized apparatus for the department.
Chief Brown’s era consisted of many new ideas toward fire protection. He installed the first telegraph box system from Gamewell during 1917. He directed operations for the first fire house which was built in 1922, and put into service an Aherns-Fox pump and ladder combination.
In the month of March 1924, Chief Brown resigned his office after having been with the department for over 9 years of active service.
1916 – 1923