Boston Fire Department

[edburke]

[quote name='wra55' post='43500' date='Oct 13 2006, 22:37 ']I think it was assigned to that house, to make up for a lack of a nearby truck company in the area, espically out in Port Norfolk. Never saw it used as a ladder though...[/quote]



It was bought to placate the residents of Ashmont/Port Norfolk in the wake of the Proposition 2-1/2 cuts. They made an awful lot of noise about losing their ladder truck. In essence, it was a quick fix, and it was one of three Sutphens purchased, the other two were engine companies, assigned to Engine 29 and Engine 55. It was a much larger contract, signed by the Paul administration, with a lot of engines to be delivered, but Leo Stapleton cancelled the contract as one of his first actions as the new Commissioner, and put out a new bid, which E\-One was awarded, and the rest is history.



As far as Engine 20 being used as a ladder, I heard one story of a rescue being made with the stick-I think it was on Chickatawbut St., but can't confirm it. I also saw it used as a water tower for a junkyard fire at Dorchester Av/Freeport St. in 1987.



Here's another shot of it working at a multiple alarm fire in Southie on Easter Sunday 1986.