A fire service aerial truck belonging to the Lakeview Fire Department was severely damaged in a fire at the Sutphen facility in Urbana on August 31, 2024. The incident, discovered early that morning, involved a vehicle that had smoldered but was no longer actively burning.
Emergency responders from the Urbana Fire Division arrived to find the truck with extensive fire damage. Fortunately, the fire had self-extinguished before their arrival, and no additional firefighting efforts were needed.
The damaged truck was situated approximately 8 feet from a commercial building. Despite its proximity, the fire did not cause any damage to the building, either inside or out. Adjacent plastic materials showed signs of heat exposure, but no other vehicles were involved in the incident.
Employees at the Sutphen facility reported no injuries. The employee who discovered the damaged truck noted that it was already in its compromised state when he arrived. Staff had left the facility on August 30, 2024, at around 3:30 p.m., and there were no issues with the vehicle at that time.
The Sutphen Service Manager indicated that the area where the truck was stored was restricted by a locked gate and advised against disturbing the vehicle due to an anticipated investigation.
The State of Ohio Fire Marshal is now leading the investigation into the cause of the fire. In a conversation Tuesday they said it does not appear to be a criminal matter at this time.
Sutphen, has declined to comment on the incident at this time.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
