Sunapee seeks volunteers for fire board overseeing department leadership

Sunapee was seeking residents on May 18 to serve on the Board of Firewards, a town body that does far more than meet occasionally. The board provides policy oversight and governance for the Sunapee Fire Department, and its next members will help decide how the department is led.

The board’s authority reaches into the department’s core operations. It appoints the fire chief, and the chief then oversees the department’s organizational and administrative work, including the appointment of firefighters and other employees. That makes the Firewards a key link between town government, public safety policy and the daily functioning of emergency services.

In a small town, that kind of oversight can matter most when staffing changes, leadership transitions or department planning put pressure on local government. Sunapee’s emergency system depends on a mix of on-call firefighters, mutual aid partners and local leadership, so a board seat is not a ceremonial post. It is one of the places where decisions can affect how reliably the department is supported over time.

The town said it was looking for residents with an interest in public service, governance, leadership and supporting emergency services. The notice pointed residents toward a Volunteer Interest Form, which was available with the announcement and online, and said completed written forms should be returned to the Town Manager’s Office.

For Sunapee residents who want direct influence over how public safety is organized, the opening offered a practical route into town governance. The Firewards help determine who leads the department and help shape the policies that support it, putting local oversight at the center of fire service stability.