Sunapee fire department schedules annual pump testing in harbor area

Fire apparatus will be working around Sunapee Harbor as the Sunapee Fire Department carries out annual pump testing, a routine check that determines whether each truck can still move water at the pressure and volume needed in a real fire. The department said April 23 that Lakes Region Fire Apparatus was performing the testing and certification work.

The harbor location matters because the activity is visible. Residents and visitors may notice fire trucks, hose setups, crews near the water and temporary traffic disruptions while the testing is underway. What looks like an unusual scene is part of routine readiness, not an emergency call.

Pump testing is one of the most important maintenance steps a fire department can take. Lakes Region Fire Apparatus says annual testing is a documented procedure to prove an apparatus can perform at its rated capacity from draft, and UL Solutions says pump testing and in-service equipment certification are used to help ensure fire equipment remains safe and operational. In Sunapee, that kind of verification carries added weight because fire protection depends on a small, largely on-call department and a town layout that includes homes, businesses, harbor structures and access roads that can complicate response.

Sunapee Fire reported 694 calls for service in 2025, including 296 fire calls, 305 EMS calls, 68 motor-vehicle accidents and 25 service calls. The department said its average response time from tone to the first fire or EMS unit responding was 3.92 minutes, while the average time to the first unit arriving on scene was 10.2 minutes. Its year-end report said the department remained largely on-call, with only one per-diem fire and EMS provider.

The department’s equipment record shows why the harbor testing is more than routine maintenance. Sunapee received a new Rescue Engine in December 2025, ordered in April 2024 with money from the Fire Department Apparatus and Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. The truck replaced a 31-year-old Mack engine that had severe rust issues and was taken out of service in spring 2024. The new rig carries the radio designation Sunapee Rescue 1 and serves as the primary vehicle for motor-vehicle accidents, ice rescues, technical rescues and support at fire scenes.

The need for dependable apparatus was underscored on July 10, 2025, when a structure fire at 32 Upper Bay Road went to a third alarm and drew mutual aid from Newport, New London, Goshen, Sutton, Springfield, Croydon, Newbury, Lempster, Grantham and Bradford. With six members initially responding because the fire started during the workday, the department leaned on outside help and working equipment to protect the scene. No specific equipment risk was identified in the pump-testing notice, but the certification work is aimed at making sure Sunapee’s trucks are ready when the next call comes.