Both the Fire Department and Rescue Squad are volunteer organizations comprised of women and men trained and certified in various areas of emergency first response services. These volunteers are not stationed at the firehouse but respond when alerted on their pagers or cell phones (where service is available) from their homes, workplaces, or wherever they happen to be. They are dispatched by the Southwestern New Hampshire mutual aid system dispatch center in Keene, NH in response to calls made to 911.
Although legally separate organizations, Fire and Rescue share membership and space at the Firehouse just east of Grafton Village. In addition to serving the Grafton community, both groups have been contracted to provide Fire and EMS coverage to the adjacent Town of Athens. As part of the regional Mutual Aid network, both groups can also be called to assist other towns and likewise, Fire and Rescue services from other towns can be called to assist in Grafton. Being independent volunteer organizations, both groups are responsible for raising the majority of their operating funds. At Town Meeting each year, the voters are asked to approve significant allocations but additional fundraising is necessary which includes annual appeals, grants, and fundraising events. The most noteworthy event is the annual October tag sale conducted by the Fire and Rescue Auxiliary, held since 1981 to benefit the Fire Department. The Auxiliary also holds a popular Christmas Tree sale to benefit its Scholarship Fund.
