AMLIN, OH—Sutphen Corporation has announced that Boise Mobile Equipment (BME), of Boise, Idaho, is its official sales and service representative in California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.

Zach Rudy, director of sales and marketing for the Sutphen Corporation, explains how Boise Mobile came to represent the company. “Sutphen was actively seeking a distribution partner with a strong sales and service presence in California and other western states,” he says. “After meeting with leadership from Boise Mobile, listening to their passion for the business, and spending time with them at the Sutphen facility, it was clear that this organization had all of the attributes we were looking for.” Rudy continues, “BME’s attention to detail in the products they build, their commitment to customer service, and their passion for what they do are just a few of the reasons we feel they are the right company to represent our company. We are extremely happy to welcome Boise Mobile Equipment to our team.”

“We are excited to add Boise Mobile Equipment to our growing dealer network,” says Clark Green, national sales manager for Sutphen Corporation. “BME’s established reputation within the fire industry and their commitment to providing exceptional sales and service support will help us strengthen our presence in this Western territory.”

Sutphen Corporation’s president, Drew Sutphen, shares, “The entire Sutphen team is excited to welcome Boise Mobile Equipment to our dealer network. BME will contribute to Sutphen’s mission to provide the safest, most reliable fire apparatus in the world, through their dedication to customer focus and service after the sale.”

Boise Mobile Equipment president, Chad Moffat, shares his view of the new venture. “We (BME) are excited to partner with Sutphen Corporation as part of their dealership program,” he says. “Sutphen Corporation offers a great opportunity for BME to expand their footprint in the fire industry with the addition of aerial lines, engines, and chassis platforms. BME is committed to building and providing the best fire apparatus for our customers, and partnering as a Sutphen dealer is a step in the right direction. BME will continue to expand our presence in the fire industry and manufacture custom fire apparatus with more functionality, safety, and durability. Purchasing a BME or Sutphen Fire Apparatus is a great investment for any fire department.”  

Boise Mobile Equipment has been in business since 1990 in Boise, Idaho. Today, BME is known as a premier manufacturer of Type 3, 4, and 6 wildland firefighting vehicles. In addition, its also manufactures a wide variety of command vehicles for the law enforcement and fire industries along with tenders and rescues. In addition to its facility in Boise, BME focuses on servicing its customers with service centers up and down the west coast and mobile technicians to service customers on site at their fire stations.

Sutphen Corporation is an Ohio-based, privately held, family-owned business that manufactures the high-quality, heavy-duty, custom-built emergency response vehicles. The company's is headquartered in Ohio.

For more information, visit www.sutphen.com.

The Spokane Fire Department water rescue team saved a father and daughter who were stranded on rocks in the Devil’s Toenail area of the Spokane River Sunday afternoon. The pair were inner-tubing the river when they tipped over in the rapids, becoming stranded on the rocks in the middle of the river, according to a fire department news release.
- PUB DATE: 8/28/2017 8:25:32 AM - SOURCE: Spokane Spokesman-Review

CLICK ABOVE FOR A VINTAGE FIRE APPARATUS GALLERY >>

By Ron Heal

A few years ago, I attended a national SPAAMFAA summer muster in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Every summer the Great Lakes Chapter of SPAAMFAA has a gathering or muster of vintage fire apparatus at that very popular tourist destination. Attending those musters is always worth the trip. Frankenmuth has also hosted several national SPAAMFAA summer meetings and musters, bringing in a selection of vintage fire apparatus from all over the USA and even a few Canadian rigs. While checking out the vintage apparatus line, I came across a well-known 1930 Seagrave tractor-drawn aerial (TDA) ladder truck that had served the Syracuse (NY) Fire Department as Truck 7. This truck was no stranger to musters in the east. It had been owned by some of the most well-known names in vintage fire apparatus circles—Richard Horstman, Ken Soderbeck, and Ryan DeVries had all been owners at one time. The 85-foot wooden aerial in a dark maroon color is very impressive. It was interesting to find out that the rig was now owned by Dr. Francis Glenn, a corn breeder and seed producer from Blenheim, Ontario. Glenn was on hand to talk about the rig he had trailered over from Blenheim. I was surprised to find such a storied rig that had served a U.S. city had made its way across the border to Canada. It turns out that the Seagrave was only the tip of a very large collection of vintage fire apparatus assembled along the shores of Lake Erie, just outside of the town of Blenheim. Glenn gave me his business card, and I am glad he did.

Over the years, I have stayed in touch with Glenn, and with each phone visit, I have learned more about his unique collection of vintage fire apparatus would you believe 18 pieces of fire apparatus? And they are all Seagrave-related. The best part of this feature is that there is even more!

Glenn is very accommodating and is generous to share information on his vintage apparatus collection. In 2015 when the Champaign (IL) Fire Department was getting ready to observe its 150th anniversary, we were able to make arrangements for Glenn to bring his 1915 Seagrave pumper that had served Champaign back to be a part of that big event. The 100-year old pumper was beautifully restored for previous owner John Zangerle by Ken Soderbeck. The pumper ran the parade route with ease. Glenn brought along his neighbor, Wes Thompson. It turns out that these two guys are not just neighbors, but they both are vintage fire apparatus collectors. By my count Thompson has 19 pieces of vintage fire apparatus. Two guys in rural Blenheim, Ontario, Canada, with 37 rigs between them!

In late June 2017, my travels took me back home to Ontario. Glenn and Thompson were kind enough to invite me to Blenheim to see their collections. On July 1, Canada was celebrating its 150th birthday, and there were all kinds of events and parades planned for that big event. I was sure that Glenn and Thompson would be getting rigs ready for some area parades. If they could find another 37 drivers, they coul