Industry News

LONGTIME FIRE SERVICE LEADER KARLRISTOWTO RECEIVE NFFFGLATFELTER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is recognizing Chief Karl Ristow, CFO, as the newest recipient of the organization’s Arthur J. Glatfelter Distinguished Service Award.

Chief Ristow, who currently serves as the Program Director for the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) program at the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), is being recognized for his many and varied contributions to the NFFF, according to Troy Markel, Chairman of the NFFF Board Of Directors.

“Karl is a tireless advocate for the Foundation and the fire service in general,” Markel said. “His dedication sets the bar for the rest of us to follow.”

Chief Ristow became involved in the NFFF in 2007, when he served on the incident management team that developed and executed the memorial service and burials for nine Charleston, South Carolina firefighters killed while fighting a fire at the Super Sofa Store. Since then, as a volunteer, donor, and educator, Ristow has supported the NFFF in raising awareness and funds for its prevention and support missions.

Chief Ristow is second Chairman and National Coordinator for the NFFF Memorial Golf Tournaments program. In the five years that Chief Ristow has dedicated his time and energy, the tournaments have raised more than $1.7 million in support of the NFFF.

Along with his wife, Barbara, Chief Ristow volunteers for the Hal Bruno bereavement camps for the children of fallen firefighters, serving as Big Buddies, Healing Circle Assistants, and Floaters. The Ristow's are also members of the NFFF Giving Circle, a group comprised of the Foundation’s most generous financial donors.

Karl’s commitment to the fire and emergency service family is evident in both his accreditation work with the CPSE and his dedicated volunteering with the NFFF, shared CPSE Chief Executive Officer, Preet Bassi. “Both organizations are lucky to have him as part of our teams.” Before joining CPSE, Chief Ristow served as Fire Chief for the St. John’s Fire District in South Carolina for 14 years and as a Resident Training Specialist for the South Carolina Fire Academy. Chief Ristow is a retired United States Air Force Fire Protection Supervisor. He holds a master’s degree in Management and Public Administration, a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, and associate degrees in Fire Science and Instructor of Technology and Military Science. He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, a Chief Fire Officer Designee through the Commission on Professional Credentialing, and a Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE).

The NFFF created the Arthur J. Glatfelter Distinguished Service Award to recognize exceptional service to the NFFF by men and women who continue in support of Glatfelter’s legacy as a champion of the fire service. In 1969, Glatfelter created the Volunteer Fireman’s Insurance Services (VFIS), the first company of its kind to meet the insurance needs for firefighters. Glatfelter was also an enthusiastic advocate for the NFFF and its missions and served for many years on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Chief Ristow will be presented the Glatfelter Distinguished Service Award by Tony Campisi, Chairman of the Glatfelter Insurance Group, on March 22, 2022 during the opening session of the CPSE Excellence Conference in Orlando, FL. “Chief Ristow represents everything that Art Glatfelter stood for,” Campisi said. “We are grateful for leaders who carry the standard for the fire service, and it’s a privilege to present Chief Ristow with this award.” The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation was created by Congress in 1992 to honor and recognize firefighters who died in the line of duty each year. To meet this mandate, the Foundation reviews the circumstances of each firefighter fatality reported to determine whether the death also meets criteria for inclusion on the National Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The guidelines by which these determinations are governed can be found on our website at https://www.firehero.org/fallen-firefighters/memorial/. The NFFF is closely reviewing COVID-related deaths to determine eligibility for inclusion on the National Memorial.

SUTPHEN CORPORATION TO DISPLAYNEW TRACTOR DRAWN AERIALIN FDIC BOOTH 3324

Sutphen Corporation, the largest family-owned fire apparatus manufacturer in the nation, announces that FDIC 2022 will be the showcase venue for Sutphen’s new Tractor Drawn Aerial.

The tractor drawn aerial will add to Sutphen’s already extensive product lineup and will be the first Sutphen TDAsince the 1990s.

“We cannot wait to showcase this new product at FDIC 2022,” said fourth-generation family member and Sutphen vice president, Julie Sutphen Phelps. “We know this will be the talk of the show, and we are excited to unveil the Sutphen TDAin front of such a large audience.”

The truck, destined for DeKalb County Fire Rescue in Dekalb County, Georgia, will be available to see in Sutphen Booth #3324 in the Indiana Convention Center Thursday, April 28 through Saturday, April 30. “This is why people go to FDIC,” said Sutphen’s director of sales and marketing, Zach Rudy. “People go to FDIC for the excitement and the unveiling of new products across the fire industry. We know that the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium will be abuzz with talk of the Sutphen Tractor Drawn Aerial.” If customers have questions or would like additional details about the apparatus prior to the show, they are encouraged to contact their Sutphen dealer.

Customers can find their Sutphen dealer by following the link here: https://www.sutphen.com/locations/.

Hainesport All-Hands Dwelling Fire

On March 15, 2022, Chief Bozarth arrived and reported a Hainesport twostory, single-family dwelling with fire showing on the porch extending into division 1 and 2 on the Alpha side. Units from Mount Laurel, Westampton, Lumberton, Moorestown and Eastampton also operated on the fire ground. Adelay in response from Public Service Gas & Electric prevented firefighters from extinguishing flames on the delta side of the home foroveran hour. The cause of the fire was under investigation. - Fire News photos by Dave Hernandez

Hackensack 2-Alarmer

On April 3, 2022, at 0811, Hackensack Fire Desk received a 911 call reporting a fire on FairStreet. While responding, Deputy 4 reported smoke from a distance and requested a second alarm. Companies were met with heavy smoke and fire conditions on the second floorof the home with fire extending into the attic. Companies put several handlines in service to begin knocking down the fire. Additional companies from Englewood and Teaneck assisted. The fire was placed undercontrol in a little overan hour. One firefighterand one occupant were injured and transported to Hackensack UMC. Additional units on scene came from Bogota, Hackensack UMC BLS, Hackensack Police and Building Department. - Fire News photos by Justin Derevyanik

Hawthorne 2-Alarm House Fire

Hawthorne firefighters continued to remain busy as they were dispatched to yet anotherfire on the morning of January 8, 2022. Companies arrived at a 1-1/2 story home on Llewellyn Avenue just before 1000, to find heavy smoke and fire from the garage/breezeway area. Asecond alarm was requested, bringing mutual aid to the scene and to coveras companies went to work with several 1-3/4 inch handlines, quickly knocking down the fire. The fire was placed undercontrol in approximately 40 minutes and was underinvestigation. This was the latest of at least six working house fires to strike the town in a few months. - Fire News photos by Peter Danzo

Page 30, Fire News, May 2022

Extensive Overhaul in Passaic

On March 28, 2022, the Passaic Fire Department responded to a large 2-1/2 story wood frame on Marietta Street fora fire. Companies arrived to fire showing from the basement window on the Bravo side and an interiorattack was initiated. Crews had extension to the upperfloors but it was quickly knocked down. Horizontal ventilation was conducted as crews conducted extensive overhaul on all fourfloors. AClifton laddercompany responded to the scene, while Paterson, Wallington and East Rutherford covered the city.

- Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti