Group Shots!!!

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The use of Sutphen aerial towers by the Syracuse Fire Department goes back to January 14,1971 when our Truck 6 (1964 American LaFrance Aero-Chief 90-foot snorkel) collapsed at a multiple alarm fire at a warehouse located at 190 Tully street on the corner of West Street, fatally injuring one firefighter and seriously injuring two others. The collapse was found to be due to the failure of a hydraulic fitting that was less than a ten-dollar part. The expected lawsuits and settlements followed over the course of many years, the damaged vehicle was later rebuilt with a Seagrave 100-foot aerial ladder, and most importantly, Chief of Fire Thomas F.Hanlon III vowed that no articulating-boom fire apparatus would ever be purchased again by the SFD. In an extensive search for replacement vehicles began - Syracuse was in the early stages of a department-wide reorganization plan that would encompass numerous new apparatus and fire stations.  Many different types and configurations of aerial apparatus were tested.Tom Sutphen came to the SFD Fire Academy with a demonstrator of one of his relatively new aerial towers, and Chief Hanlon was very favorably impressed with both the man and the machine. We ordered our first tower, which was delivered in 1973 to Truck 4. We just took delivery of our 21st Sutphen tower last month. Over the years the SFD developed a very good relationship with Sutphen, sometimes trying out new features before they were released (or rejected), and providing constructive input from the SFD Division of Maintenance. Although, like most larger cities, we typically make large capital purchases via competitive bid, we do not do so for our Sutphen towers. We are required to go the the City Common Council and apply for a Waiver of Competitive Bid each and every time a tower purchase is scheduled, and explain to their satisfaction why we can justify this action. I did so many times as SFD Chief of Maintenance, and never had one refused.  Sometimes, especially in lean financial times, it was a tough sell - but we were always able to convince the politicians that it was the right and prudent thing to do. What this long-winded reply (sorry) all adds up to is, to answer your original question: Preference. Every time a new tower was on my eight-year Capital Improvements Plan, I had every manufacturer bring over their newest and best equipment, to give everyone a fair shot. I always said that if I ever found a different make that could do everything a Sutphen could do, in the same time or less, for the same price, I would consider it. Many tried. Some even came close. We still buy Sutphens in Syracuse.