The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty death of Firefighter Jeffrey Holt, 60, of the Lawrence Fire Department on April 30, 2018.

Firefighter Jeffrey Holt collapsed from an apparent heart attack just after passing an annual physical assessment at Lawrence Fire Department Station 38. According to reports, medics were present and immediately provided aid. Firefighter Holt was then transported to the Indiana Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Holt at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/

To date, 33 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018.  Year-to-date and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/ff_fatality_reports.html

Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.

Kussmaul Electronics recently announced the passing of the company's founder, Ernest A. Kussmaul, known to his friends and associates as "Ernie", from cardiac arrest on Saturday, April 26, 2018. He was 88 years old.

Mr. Kussmaul, who resided in West Sayville, New York, will be fondly remembered as an accomplished and solution-oriented engineer. He founded Kussmaul Electronics (KECO) in a small shop in 1967. The business grew as it expanded its extensive product line known for innovative solutions for the Emergency Vehicle market. Kussmaul Electronics has provided employment for many people since its founding. Widely loved and respected by his 'KECO family' and the industry, he continued to engineer new solutions as company president until he retired in 2015. Ernest was a devoted husband to his late wife, (deceased 2016) Marilyn, and father to his daughter, Dr. Annette Kussmaul.

Visitation will be at the Raynor & D'Andrea Funeral Home, 245 Main St. West Sayville, NY on Wednesday, May 2nd 2018.

2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Church services will be held on Thursday, May 3rd at 11:30 a.m at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sayville, New York. Interment to follow at Sayville Union Cemetary.

Full obit HERE.

FORT COLLINS, CO—Boulder (CO) Fire Department officials have finalized plans to purchase a triple combination pumper fire truck through SVI Trucks, a local fire apparatus manufacturer in Colorado. The recently announced purchase marks Boulder’s first-ever SVI fire engine. The announcement comes on the heels of SVI Trucks’ recent Greeley and Loveland deliveries.

Chief Holger Durre said Boulder awarded the bid to SVI Trucks because of the company’s renowned truck quality and customer service. “We also appreciated the close proximity of the factory to Boulder. We anticipate that our build process will be easier to facilitate because we can include department members who we may not have been involved had the factory been out of state,” Durre said. “Finally, SVI's responsiveness to our RFP indicated they were highly motivated to partner with the city on this important project.”

Boulder’s new apparatus will be built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis and feature the extra long four door (ELFD) cab style. At 99 inches wide with a 10-inch raised roof and seating for five, the new Boulder truck will tout one of the industry’s largest cabs and come equipped with the Spartan Advanced Protection System, featuring full-size, side-curtain airbags. Boulder also opted for the Cummins 450-hp L9 engine and Allison 3000 EVS transmission, featuring a shorter engine tunnel for additional cab room. Above the tunnel, SVI will add a custom storage compartment, and the entire dash will tout heavy-duty aluminum. The cab will also be outfitted with OnScene Solutions’ Talon helmet mounts.

The engine will include SVI Trucks’ first-ever single-compartment front bumper with 26-inch extension, designed to accommodate Boulder’s battery-operated eDRAULIC® extrication equipment. Meanwhile, the triple-action truck will be equipped with a Waterous CU midship pump, a 500-gallon water tank, and electronic pump intake valve. The valve is located behind the pump panel, protecting it from the elements while creating a cleaner looking exterior. Featuring a Boulder-favorite low hosebed, the hose will be easily accessible from the rear of the apparatus. The truck also includes a booster reel with one-inch hose, located above the pump module, for small, quick attacks.

The engine will be equipped with Whelen Pioneer scene lights (12V LED PFS2 front lights and 12V PCPSM2B surface-mounted side lights), all powered by a Harrison MAS 6.0-kW hydraulic generator. All compartments feature OnScene Access LED lighting.

“We’re excited to partner with Boulder on this truck. We refurbished a 20-foot walk-in dive van for the department back in 2016, and we enjoyed customizing the van with the Boulder crew, and now, we’re even more excited to be teaming up with the department on their triple combination pumper,” said Jason Kline, the Colorado and Wyoming Sales Manager for SVI Trucks. “We understand how important this build is to their department, and we hope this truck will inspire a long-term partnership with Chief Durre and his team. We’re honored they chose to go local.”

For more information, visit www.svitrucks.com.

Amlin, OH—Sutphen Corporation has announced Fire Apparatus Service Technicians (F.A.S.T.), of Somerset, Pennsylvania, as the official Sutphen sales and service representative for Western Pennsylvania, Northern West Virginia, and Western Maryland.

“This dealer transition is prompted by the retirement of longtime Sutphen representative, Jeff Britt,” says Clark Green, national sales manager for the Sutphen Corporation. “We sincerely thank Jeff for his dedication to serving Sutphen customers for the past 41 years. With Jeff’s assistance, the transition to F.A.S.T. is taking shape, and has been smooth and seamless thus far. Sutphen has been utilizing F.A.S.T. for service work in this territory for over a decade, so combining the amazing sales team that Jeff has built with F.A.S.T.’s reputation for providing excellent customer service is a perfect marriage.”

Owners of F.A.S.T, Bob Feathers and Brandon McKenzie, have more than 60 years of combined experience in the fire apparatus manufacturing and service field. “Working with Sutphen over the past decade has allowed us to experience the company’s commitment to the customer before, during, and after the sale. This customer focus is the same philosophy that F.A.S.T. has built its reputation on” stated Brandon. “Sutphen takes pride in the trucks they manufacture, and F.A.S.T. is excited to be on the team that sells those products.”

F.A.S.T. has multiple fully-stocked service trucks and trained technicians that can do anything from electrical repairs to pump overhauls in the field. They also offer in-station services such as, but not limited to: aerial maintenance, aerial cleaning, preventive maintenance, pump testing, ground ladder testing, generator services, and apparatus fluid changes. More extensive repairs and services including repainting or a total refurbishment of a unit can be done at the F.A.S.T. six-bay service and fabrication shop located in Somerset, Pennsylvania.

For more information, visit www.sutphen.com.

A Lawrence Fire Department (LFD) firefighter passed away Monday after the department’s annual physical assessment training. Jeff Holt, 60, had been with the department since 1996. He was previously a Lafayette firefighter. The department says the physical assessment includes turnout in full gear. Shortly after 10 a.
- PUB DATE: 5/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXIN-TV Fox 59 Indianapolis