Sunapee Fire Department reminds residents to call 911 in emergencies

Sunapee Fire Department urged residents to call 911 for emergencies instead of the station business line, 603-763-5770, after reminding the public that the phone is not monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The June 25 notice underscored how the department actually operates in Sunapee, where response still depends primarily on volunteers and a single part-time firefighter who is at the station only a couple of days each week. That staffing model means the business line can be unanswered when personnel are already out on a call, in training, at meetings, handling inspections, doing public education, or maintaining equipment.

That gap matters in a town where timing can decide how much damage a fire, medical emergency, or rescue incident causes. Calling 911 sends the request directly to dispatch, which can quickly alert firefighters, emergency medical personnel, law enforcement, and any other agencies needed for the scene. Using the fire station line instead can leave residents waiting while seconds slip away.

The department’s public notice is part of a broader effort to correct a common misunderstanding about how a small local fire station works day to day. Sunapee Fire serves as the town’s primary provider of fire protection, emergency medical services, rescue operations, and public safety, covering residential neighborhoods, seasonal homes, and the Lake Sunapee region.

The town says the department’s mission also includes public education and strong regional partnerships. That role is especially important in a community where emergencies can overlap with weather events and other incidents. The town’s news page listed a spill update on June 23, an active-incident post on June 26, and a June 27 notice about a major propane leak after a severe thunderstorm.

Sunapee Fire’s own recent-calls page says it does not publish every incident, leaving out many medical calls, fire alarms, service calls, and minor accidents. Even so, a town hiring notice said members responded to 694 emergency calls in 2025, a volume that shows how quickly a volunteer-heavy department can be stretched across multiple scenes.

The town’s fire history goes back to Wednesday, June 11, 1873, when the original Sunapee Fire District was organized at Esek Young’s Hall. More than 150 years later, the department’s message was simple: in an emergency, do not wait for the station phone to be answered. Call 911 first.