The Strafford Rural Fire Department was organized in 1957. After 30 years as a dues paying volunteer department, voters of the community approved the rural department becoming a protection district in 1987. The change eliminated annual dues as all property owners would pay for the protection through their personal property and real estate taxes.
In august 1989 the district began responding to medical and rescue calls. Another big change came for the department in 2008 as the department received a federal grant to pay salaries to become a combination career/volunteer department. The grant approval was followed by a vote of the district residents to approve a tax increase of .50 per 1,000. Of assessed valuation which would be designated to personnel expenses. In the spring of 2009 16 firefighters were hired to fill three shifts of 5 firefighters and a daytime officer. Strafford Fire Protection District went for a bond in April of 2022 for 8 million dollars to update and replace equipment along with adding another station. The department currently has 3 operating stations with 1 satellite station that houses trucks and equipment. The department currently operates with a Fire Chief with daytime hours and 18 career/paid firefighters. The breakdown of the department is as follows: 1 Chief, 3 Battalion Chiefs, 6 Captains, 9 Firefighters and a secretary at Station 1 Headquarters. The Department is on track to run about 1,800 calls for the 2025 year with that number growing every year.
The district is governed by an elected 5-member board of directors.
