ConocoPhillips Refinery Gets Sutphen Corp. ‘Tank Killer’

Sutphen "Tank Killer"
The fire suppression team at the Wood River Refinery selected a Sutphen “Tank Killer” to help with its fire fighting needs. The apparatus is capable of flowing 4,500 gpm of foam at an elevation of 100 feet. (Fire Apparatus Photo by Don Johnson)

ConocoPhillips is the second largest refiner and the third largest integrated energy company in the United States, and it prides itself on its safe operations and preparedness activities for potential emergency response situations.

The company has taken delivery of a 2006 Sutphen mid-mount foam aerial ladder, a unit Sutphen has labeled “Tank Killer.” The new apparatus is in service at the company’s Wood River Refinery in Roxana, Ill.

The 110-foot aerial features high rail, box boom, Huckbolt construction, which is unique to Sutphen. It is powered by a Detroit Diesel Series 60 515 horsepower engine.

To fight fires, it has a Hale A8FG 3,000 gpm pump, a National Foam Servo Command foam system, and an Akron 5,000 gpm Renegade monitor.

800-Gallon Tank Of Foam

Because it’s in service at a refinery, it has an 800-gallon UPF polypropylene tank for foam and a National Foam Servo Command foam system to provide a range of 1, 3 or 6 percent foam proportioning that automatically balances and proportions foam regardless of pressure and flow variation.

Three 5-inch intakes on the pump panel allow connections to additional ConocoPhillips foam pumpers to provide a maximum 4,500 gpm flow at an aerial elevation of 100 feet.

The large flow capacity and long service life are reasons several industries have made the choice to purchase a Sutphen foam aerial. They look for a service life of 20 to 30 years, and Sutphen is well known in the fire service for building long lasting apparatus. The company is also a leader in high flow, highest elevation and workable foam streams for petrochemical and industrial fire apparatus.

Other Features

Other features on the $950,000 unit include an Onan 6,000-watt pto generator, and a stainless steel body.

The Wood River Refinery is located just east of St. Louis, Mo., covering 2,500 acres. At the facility, crude oil is refined into gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, solvents and asphalt. Crude oil and finished products are stored in more than 100 large tanks at the site.

Emergency Response Specialist and Fire Chief Rick Hasse heads the ConocoPhillips team of 250 volunteer or designated company employees providing all fire and emergency protection services to the huge refinery complex.

The unit was sold by Ed Orolin, Interstate Emergency Vehicles, Plainfield, Ill.

For information call 800-848-5860 or go to www.sutphen.com.

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