Standing at 100 feet in the air, Fire Chief Doug McElmury and the firefighters from Pleasant Prairie are putting the village’s brand-new aerial fire truck through its paces. This $1.1 million, cutting-edge ladder truck marks a major leap forward compared to their previous 29-year-old model, which is now being sold off.

Chief McElmury explained that this state-of-the-art vehicle was showcased at the Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services Association Conference back in January. It took two full years to design and customize this impressive piece of equipment, which was eventually included in the village's budget as part of planned equipment upgrades.

Looking around, McElmury highlighted the nearby industrial park, home to companies like Emco Chemical and Rustoleum. The village also has several multi-story senior citizen apartment complexes and multi-family dwellings, making this new truck essential for rescue operations in these types of structures.

The tower ladder itself is a game-changer when it comes to handling rescues in both multi-family homes and senior housing facilities. Additionally, the master streams can be remotely controlled using a specialized unit that allows firefighters to adjust various parameters, including oscillation. As McElmury noted, "We can switch between a fog stream for dealing with flammable liquids or cooling areas down, or a smooth bore nozzle to penetrate deeper if we're tackling Class A combustibles or a burning building."

One of the standout features is the ability to operate the truck from a distance. McElmury mentioned that they can control it from up to a quarter-mile away once the water flow is established. "From there, we can manage everything remotely," he added.

Weighing approximately 78,000 pounds and measuring 47 feet long and 11 feet tall, the truck is not only a powerhouse but also doubles as a mobile light tower thanks to its LED lighting system. With thermal imaging capabilities provided by the remote control, firefighters can quickly identify hot and cold zones during a fire, improving response times and safety.

Operating this complex machinery will fall to the fire department's pump operators. Over the weekend, all three shifts completed their factory training. Following that, in-house training will continue for another four to five weeks. McElmury confirmed that the community won't see the new truck on emergency calls until April.

"This is without a doubt one of the most intricate pieces of equipment most fire departments own," he remarked. "Aerial trucks tend to be among the most complicated."

When asked about the truck's versatility, McElmury described it as "a rolling toolbox." While the ladder is undoubtedly the most visible component, the vehicle itself offers a wide range of advanced tools and functionalities that make it indispensable for modern firefighting operations.

Thanks, Dan!

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