The City of Raleigh Fire Department’s Fire Station 29, 12113 Leesville Road, is home to Ladder 9’s the Capital City’s second tractor-drawn aerial ladder or tiller truck.
The City of Raleigh has operated “tiller trucks” for nearly a century. The first was delivered in 1916. Built by American LaFrance, its tractor was replaced in 1939. The truck served until replaced by a newer American LaFrance in 1958. Ladder 4 at Station 1 on Dawson Street received a 2010 Pierce Arrow XT tiller.
The delivery of Ladder 9 adds a second tiller to the fleet. This is the first time in the history of the department where two tillers have served at once. Raleigh is currently the only fire department in North and South Carolina operating two or more tillers.
Ladder 9 is a 2015 Pierce Arrow XT tiller that is equipped with a 1500 gallon per minute (GPM) pump, a 300 gallon water tank, and a 102-foot aerial ladder. It was manufactured in Appleton, Wis. by Pierce Manufacturing. Pierce has been making quality fire and rescue apparatus since 1913.