Poway residents were treated to "meet and greet" with the city's newest fire service member on Tuesday, July 15. Poway’s new ladder truck was three years in the making and customized to the city’s specifications – even down to the placement of tools and supplies. A Poway team visited the Pierce factory in Wisconsin to both approve the initial design and perform a final inspection.
Officially known as a tiller truck, it features a steerable trailer section for greater maneuverability on city streets and flexibility in accessing challenging areas. It has a 107-foot aerial ladder capable of reaching the rooftop of any building in the city. The aerial ladder can be used to stream water from an elevated vantage point and for rope rescues (known as pickoffs). In addition to the aerial ladder, the ladder truck has a full complement of ground ladders that can access up to two-story building heights. The ladder truck also holds the latest state-of-the-art battery powered “Jaws of Life” rescue tools.
The new truck cost $1.7 million and was paid in “cash” with money designated from the city’s Capital Replacement budget from the city's General Fund. The city’s vehicle maintenance program plans for fire pumpers and ladder trucks to be operated in frontline service for 15 years. In addition to being beyond the 15 years of frontline service, the ladder truck had frequently been taken out of service for costly repairs.
The improved operational efficiency and capabilities better serves the Poway community and re-affirms Poway’s standing as a Class 1/1X fire department, as designated by the Insurance Services Office Public Protection Classification program.