New ladder truck for Shoreline Fire

Old and new truck ladders at full extension
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

In August of 2015, Shoreline voters approved a proposition to allow Shoreline Fire to issue bonds for capital improvements and major equipment.

Shiny
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

The first action on that voter approval came on Saturday, when the department took possession of a brand new ladder truck.

The truck is expected to last 15-20 years.

Old and new
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

The existing ladder truck is 25 years old and cost $415,000 when it was purchased.

The new truck cost $1.1 million. It is fully automated and can be set up from the driver's position. The ladder will go to its full 100 foot extension more rapidly than the ladder on the old truck.

Families watching and extrication demonstration
The new Extricator is battery powered
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

The department showed it off at an open house on Saturday at the headquarters station on Aurora, heavily attended by families with small children.

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Brother and sister, Ben and Libby, were almost the first to sit in the new truck's driver seat.