Ladder 7’s problem-plagued history

1985 Ladder 7 bought from Sutphen Corp. 1990 Aug. 8: The system supplying air to firefighters in the aerial’s bucket fails. The problem is never fixed. 1991 Oct. 9: The truck’s driver reports problems with the high speed throttle, which allows the aerial ladder to be raised or lowered quickly. He also reports that the truck’s front end shimmies. Neither problem is corrected. 1992 Sept. 24: A report to the repair shop notes the truck is not running properly and won’t exceed 25 mph. Repairs were made. 1994 June 13: A driver notes the truck’s windshield is badly cracked. A report to the repair shop goes unheeded. Two years later, a department repairman inspects the truck and notes that the windshield is still broken. 1996 May 10: The hydraulics in the aerial’s platform fails. The firefighter who reports the problem says the platform “seems to have a mind of its own. It works when it wants to.” 1998 MARCH: The aerial’s hydraulics leak so badly that firefighters begin keeping five-gallon containers of hydraulic fluid at the station. 2000 Jan. 29: The hydraulic arms on the aerial squirt streams of hydraulic fluid and are unable to keep the ladder erect. March 21: The truck’s commander writes to his boss, the chief of the fire department, outlining 19 specific problems with Ladder 7. The truck stays in service and the problems are not fixed. April 1, 11:37 a.m.: Ladder 7 is first ladder truck sent to 888 Pallister, a 12-story, 188-apartment complex. Because the aerial doesn’t work, the truck is unable to help in the rescue effort. Four people die and a 7-year-old girl is left paralyzed.

Contact the reporters at churt@detnews.com and mclaxton@detnews.com.