Madison Fire Department brings back old technology with a tractor-drawn aerial ladder truck to meet modern needs.
According to a release, a 107-food heavy-duty tiller aerial ladder from Pierce Manufacturing is serving Fire Station 1. The tiller is though to be the fourth tiller in the history of the Madison Fire Department. It’s the only one in service in Wisconsin today.
The release said it requires two drivers. The design allows the truck to navigate hard-to-reach alleyways, courts and cul du sacs that the previous Ladder 1 truck couldn’t maneuver. The tiller can extend 107 feet, approximately eight or nine stories high. As high-rise buildings increase, the vertical reach is more important for downtown firefighters.