New Sutphen Facility
Sutphen marked a significant investment in growing its family-owned fire apparatus manufacturing business in March 2024. A new 185,000-sq.-ft. plant in Urbana, OH, brings the workforce from three area factories under one roof to help to streamline operations and provide room for growth. The facility is home to 230 of the company’s 530 employees.
The building includes production for the Sutphen Monarch chassis and for a heavy-duty custom pumper line; the new Corporate Service and Technical Center for refurbishing and repairing rigs and providing maintenance; a three-bay Sutphen Delivery Center; expanded space for offices; and an area that’s designed for training emergency vehicle technicians. A welcome center highlights Sutphen’s 134-year history, including the six generations of the Sutphen family and innovations that date back to the early 1800s.
Members of the fourth, fifth and sixth generations of the Sutphen family were on hand for the event. President and fourth-generation family member Drew Sutphen wanted departments to know that they will continue to have the “Sutphen Experience” when they visit the facility, working with local businesses who host them during the visits.
NFPA Announces NFPA Global Solutions
NFPA’s new NFPA Global Solutions is designed to advance safety by offering compliance solutions, digital products and advisory services that build on the products and services that already are provided by the organization. An extension of the new entity is the NFPA Global Advisors, who will help governments and companies globally through the implementation of the NFPA Fire and Life Safety Ecosystem.
To learn more, go to nfpa.org.
Verizon Frontline Recognized as Innovative
Verizon Frontline was named to Fast Company’s list of World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024. Verizon Frontline is recognized as the top company in the Corporate Social Responsibility category for its development and use of new technologies, such as drones and robotics, to help to maintain mission-critical communications during disaster responses.
For more information about verizon frontline’s recognition, go to verizon.com.
ALS Certification Comment Period
The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) opened a public comment period for 23-Resolution-01: Resolution on Advanced Life Support (ALS) Certification Re-Entry Requirements.
As part of discontinuing the ALS (advanced EMT and paramedic) Psychomotor Examination, the NREMT must update its state-licensed entry and re-entry processes for AEMT and paramedic certifications to remove the requirement for the ALS Psychomotor Examination.
Under the proposed resolution, for the state-licensed entry pathway, a current and active unrestricted state license would demonstrate minimum skill competency as required by a state licensing body. The candidate wouldn’t be required to provide additional skills verification.
For re-entry candidates, skills verification would be completed through demonstration of minimum skill competency as required by a state licensing body, a state EMS office, an accredited or state-approved EMS program, or an agency training officer or medical director. In addition, the candidate must complete the National Registry’s certification examination at the appropriate level within the next recertification cycle.
As part of its efforts regarding “transparency, collaboration and stakeholder input,” the National Registry’s comment period is open through May 26, 2024.
To comment on the resolution, go to tinyurl.com/alscertify.
Oldest Active Firefighter in the U.S.
Firefighter Vincent Dransfield, of the Signac Volunteer Fire Co. No. 3 in Little Falls, NJ, celebrated his 110th birthday. Dransfield was born on March 28, 1914. He once served as a fire chief for the department, where he signed up more than eight decades ago.
NFFF, FRCE Kidney Transplant Effort
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE) are partnering with Kidneys for Communities to aid fallen firefighters’ families and others who are in need of a kidney transplant in first-responder communities across the United States.
To find out how to help first responders who need a kidney transplant, visit kidneysforcommunities.org/first-responders.
Line-of-Duty Deaths
6 U.S. firefighters died in the line of duty. Three members died from an apparent heart attack, one member died from burn injuries that he suffered at a structure fire, one member died after he collapsed while on scene of a wildfire and one member died from a motor vehicle accident while he responded to a service call. This issue of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters.
Deputy Chief Craig M. Konkle, 54, of the South Bound Brook, NJ, Fire Department, died on March 23. Konkle responded to the scene of a motor vehicle accident. Later that same day, he suffered a medical emergency while he was at his home. 9-1-1 was called. Konkle was transported to the hospital, where he was treated. Some time later, he was pronounced dead from an apparent heart attack.
Capt. Ronnie Metcalf, 53, of the Lexington, NC, Fire Department, died on March 29. Metcalf responded to a residential fire that occurred on March 26. He was treated on scene for burn injuries and then was transported by helicopter to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. Metcalf died three days later from the injuries that he suffered from burns that covered 60 percent of his body.
Firefighter James C. Ward Jr., 49, of the Virginia Department of Forestry, died on March 30. While on scene of a wildfire, Ward collapsed while he worked with a hand crew. CPR was initiated. Ward was transported to the Holston Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Firefighter Michael Vinson, 27, of the Clinton, SC, Fire Department, died on March 31. Vinson and another firefighter were responding to a service call in a fire apparatus when they collided with a vehicle. Vinson was pronounced dead on scene. The other firefighter was flown to the hospital and released.
Safety Officer John Bunardzya, 73, of the Rostraver, PA, Central Volunteer Fire Department, died on April 7. On April 6, Bunardzya responded to a call that reported trees down on the road. After assisting and removing the debris, he returned home and died in his sleep from a heart attack.
Sgt. Richard Givan, 48, of the Ekron, KY, Fire Department, died on April 8. Givan was on duty doing work in the station when he suffered a heart attack. He was transported to the local hospital, where he died.
