10/19/2026
SUNAPEE FIRE DEPARTMENT – HARBOR SPILL RESPONSE UPDATE
Monday, October 19, 2026
On Monday, October 19, 2026, at 4:16 PM, the Sunapee Fire Department was dispatched to Sunapee Harbor for a reported oil spill in the water.
The first arriving Sunapee Fire unit was on scene at 4:19 PM and confirmed a visible spill affecting portions of the harbor near the Indian Cave Docks, The Blue Canoe, and the shoreline near the Wild Goose Country Store.
Sunapee Fire personnel immediately began deploying containment booms and other spill containment equipment to prevent the spill from spreading further into Lake Sunapee or traveling downstream into the river. Through the efforts of responding personnel, the spill was successfully contained by approximately 5:40 PM, at which point crews immediately began cleanup operations.
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) was notified of the incident and consulted regarding the situation but did not respond to the scene. The Sunapee Water and Sewer Department was also notified.
CURRENT STATUS:
As of this evening, the spill has been fully contained, and initial cleanup operations have begun. However, due to approaching darkness, Sunapee Fire personnel have suspended cleanup operations for the night.
Containment booms will remain in place overnight and throughout the day on Tuesday, October 20th. Sunapee Fire personnel will return Tuesday to continue cleanup efforts and further assess the affected areas.
SPILL INVESTIGATION:
During the response, Sunapee Fire personnel conducted an extensive investigation of the surrounding area in an attempt to identify the source of the spill. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, a source could not be located.
Sunapee Fire personnel were able to collect a sample of the spilled substance, which will be analyzed as soon as possible to assist in identifying the material.
Based on the initial observations of Sunapee Fire personnel, along with photographs shared with NH DES for review, the substance may possibly be gear oil or hydraulic oil. However, this is only a preliminary assessment, and the exact substance has not yet been confirmed.
We would also like to clarify that this incident is unrelated to the hydraulic oil spill that occurred on Wednesday, October 14th, involving a crane operating at the Sunapee Harbor West Docks. Today's spill occurred in a different area of the harbor, and the two incidents are separate.
IMPORTANT PUBLIC REMINDER:
We ask that members of the public DO NOT move, remove, adjust, or otherwise interfere with any containment booms or equipment currently deployed in Sunapee Harbor. These devices are strategically positioned to prevent the spill from spreading and must remain in place until cleanup operations are completed.
The Sunapee Fire Department would like to thank the Sunapee Police Department Drone Unit for its assistance on scene. The drone provided valuable assistance to responding personnel as they assessed the affected areas and worked to contain the spill.
We appreciate the public's patience and cooperation as our personnel continue working to clean up the affected areas of Sunapee Harbor and protect Lake Sunapee.
Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
For any questions or concerns regarding this incident, please contact:
Lieutenant Timothy White
Sunapee Fire Department
Public Information Officer
📧 [email protected]
