Overview Of New London Fire Department

The Newbury Fire Department is made up of 34 volunteer members including 14 Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technicians, Basic Intermediate and Paramedic Levels. Department officers include a chief, deputy chief, captain and four lieutenants. The department operates three engines, a rescue and a tanker out of two stations

The Department provides fire and rescue service to he residents of the Town of Newbury and through mutual aid agreements assists the fire departments in the surrounding communities. Newbury firefighters are on call 24 hours a day and are notified of calls by pager from New London Dispatch.

As with most fire departments throughout the country, most of the department’s emergency responses are for medical emergencies. Automobile accidents are a leading cause of many of these medical calls. During 2003, fires accounted for only 8 of the department’s 147 calls. Medical calls for 2003 were up 50% from the 2002 level.. The high percentage of firefighter/emergency medical technicians on the department ensures that medically trained personnel are available for each response.

Forest areas, such as on Mt. Sunapee and other areas of the town pose the potential for brush fires, with more homes being built adjacent to these wooded areas, the department's rapid response and extinguishing of these fires more critical. Unlike other parts of the state where fire roads allow access to the forest areas, the steep terrain and dense forest growth of the mountain make vehicle travel impassible. Brush firefighting must be done on foot with hand tools and Newbury firefighters are trained and equipped for this difficult task. The sports of hiking, mountain biking and dirt biking often in remote areas makes rescue difficult when there are accidents and injuries.

Lake Sunapee takes up a large section of the town and summer homes on Great Island are only accessible by water. The Newbury Fire Department's fireboat provides the only fire protection to homes on the island. As many homes along the lake are down steep narrow roads, the boat often has better access than the engines on land. The boat's fire pumps, capable of drafting from the lake, provide an excellent source of water for firefighting, even some distance from the shore.

The fireboat also responds to boat fires and boating accidents on Lake Sunapee. Certainly not as common as boating accidents, but the use of seaplanes on the lake has resulted in the department responding to two aircraft emergencies on the lake over the years. During the winter, ice fishing and winter sports on the lake also poses the threat of accidents and injuries.

New London Dispatch provides 911 call taking and dispatch to the Newbury Fire Department. The fire departments in the surrounding towns of Sunapee, Bradford, New London, Goshen, and Sutton provide mutual aid support to the Newbury Fire Department in the event of a major fire or other emergency.


Address
PO Box 373
Newbury, NH 03255