Tricky Campground Fire in Sandwich: Gate Lockouts and Water...

Above: A tanker truck turns into the campground from Cotuit Road, bringing much needed water to the scene…

Above: A Sandwich police officer meets a mutual aid ambulance from Barnstable FD at the campground entrance, providing directions on how to reach the scene.

Above: Sandwich FD image of the aftermath/ HN edits…

SANDWICH, MASSACHUSETTS — Firefighters faced a stubborn and logistically challenging blaze early Thursday morning at the Sun Retreats Peter Pond campground, where a camper fire rapidly spread to multiple structures despite a swift response, according to radio transmissions.

At approximately 4 a.m., Sandwich firefighters were dispatched to the campground at 185 Cotuit Road for a report of a camper on fire. A first-alarm assignment was immediately struck, bringing apparatus from surrounding towns. As crews rolled in, radio traffic revealed two major obstacles that complicated the fight from the outset: a balky entrance gate that repeatedly required a special access card to open for responding units, and a chronic lack of water supply at the scene, according to radio transmissions.

The first crews reported they could see the fire from the campground entrance. Initial on-scene reports indicated the flames had already involved two 30-foot campers and a shed. Surrounding campers were evacuated, according to radio transmissions.

Water tanker trucks responded from West Barnstable and Sandwich Fire Departments as water supply and pressure problems persisted throughout the operation, according to radio transmissions.

Despite firefighters quickly getting water on the fire once supply lines were established, the blaze ultimately damaged a total of three campers and four sheds, according to transmissions monitored by Hyannis News.

A Barnstable Fire Department ambulance (already in town providing station coverage) was called under mutual aid to treat one person at the scene. That patient was transported to Cape Cod Hospital; the extent of injuries was not available at the time of this report.

An electrical inspector was also requested to the scene.

All details in this initial report are based solely on Sandwich and mutual-aid fire department radio transmissions. Hyannis News will update this story with official information from fire officials as it becomes available.

UPDATE FROM SANDWICH FD – 5/21/26 @ 7AM:

SANDWICH — May 21, 2026 at 3:56 am, the Sandwich Fire Department responded to a reported camper fire at Peters Pond Park – 185 Cotuit Road on Cedar Street.

On arrival units found a fully involved 30 foot trailer camper with extension to two additional 30 foot campers. A working fire was requested bringing in assistance from Joint Base Cape Cod FD and Mashpee FD to the scene. The fire also spread to two storage sheds and heat and smoke exposure to 3 other outdoor storage sheds. The bulk of the fire was extinguished within 25 minutes while another 60 minutes to extinguish remaining hot spots including debris outside the building.

One Firefighter was transported to Cape Cod Hospital for heat exhaustion, no other injuries were reported and the campers were unoccupied at the time of the fire.

A total of 24 firefighters responded to the scene and remained on scene for 90 minutes. Cotuit, Bourne and Barnstable Fire Departments provided station coverage during the incident. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Sandwich Fire Department and is not considered suspicious at this time.