From the Sutphen Corporation web site:
Press Release – Five-Section Aerials
Dublin, OH**For Immediate Release**
Date: July 22, 2014
RE: Sutphen Voluntarily Removing 5-Section Aerial Devices From Service
Sutphen Corporation has announced that the Company is instructing customers to remove all SPH 100, SP 110, SPI 112, and SAI 110 Aerial devices from service, until further notice, effective immediately.
The company states that customers are instructed to use the affected apparatus in the capacity of an engine or support vehicle only. The Company will stay in close contact with its customers to report details and when the units may be placed back in service.
“At this time, our priority is the safety of our firefighters,” says Drew Sutphen, President of the Company. “In light of the recent incidents, we recognize there is an immediate need to take precautionary action. I would rather take every precaution necessary than to put firefighters at risk.”
The company states that it will be contacting customers with the affected units personally to inform them of the events that have occurred and the steps that are being taken to get the units back in to service in a timely manner.
“We feel the need to personally assure our customers that we are working to investigate and correct the situation,” Drew continues.
Sutphen Corporation is an Ohio based privately held, family owned business that manufactures custom built emergency response vehicles. The company’s headquarters are located in suburban Dublin, Ohio northwest of Columbus.
For more information contact the sales office.
Three Hall County firefighters were injured in a training exercise on Tuesday.
According to Hall County Fire Services spokesperson Scott Cagle, the three men were in a bucket on top of a ladder that was extended. There was a mechanical failure and the ladder dropped about 20 feet and then jammed. That sudden stop is what injured the firemen.
Two of the firefighters were life-lighted to Grady Memorial Hospital; the third was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Gainesville, Ga.
All three were said to be alert, conscious and breathing. They were identified as Will Griffin, T.J. Elliot and Stephen Jackson. They were said to be in stable condition.
#1 by Bill Post on July 25, 2014 - 12:40 AM
The Question isn’t necessarily if the Fire Department has a Sutphen aerial but if the fire department happens to be using one of the 5 section Aerials that Sutphen is requesting to be removed from service.
The one fire department that this order can have a potentially devastating effect on is the Columbus Ohio fire department as 8 of their 15 Ladder companies are Sutphen elevating Platforms. The question is once again how many of those 8 Aerial Platforms the 5 section type that is being requested to be taken out of service.
Detroit also had been using Sutphen Aerial Platforms also. I know that they were using as many as three of them a few years ago but am not sure if that still is the case as so many of their companies have been taken out of service.
#2 by DMc77 on July 24, 2014 - 4:38 PM
I think the Marathon Oil rig is the only 5 section aerial in the area
#3 by marco on July 24, 2014 - 3:03 PM
Highland park wheeling
#4 by The DH on July 24, 2014 - 11:10 AM
Wheeling, Elwood, Marathon Oil in Joliet also have Sutphens
#5 by Rj on July 24, 2014 - 9:37 AM
Mundelien
#6 by J. C. on July 23, 2014 - 8:16 PM
Harvard and Cary have them but I’m pretty sure they are 95 footers
#7 by Brian on July 23, 2014 - 7:30 PM
The only two south burb sutphen aerials, Dolton and Flossmoor are not in the recall. Dolton did have their cables replaced a year or so ago due to fraying. Any othe sutphens in the area?
#8 by GA Firefighter on July 23, 2014 - 6:07 PM
Look into this more. There has been several other incidents that were blamed on maintenance issues. A South Carolina Department had cables break 4 times before they got rid of theirs. The Hall County aerial was only a few months old.
#9 by Crabby Milton on July 23, 2014 - 11:32 AM
I hope that doesn’t hurt SUTPHEN long term. At least they are responsible to be proactive. It does make one wonder if some idiot made a change or otherwise screwing up something that was long proven.