Central Protection Fire District Welcomes New $1.4M Ladder Truck

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — A new Rosenbauer ladder truck for the Central Fire Protection District of Santa Cruz County is tentatively scheduled to go into service mid-December, and it's a one-of-a-kind for the county.

The $1.4 million truck is replacing the CFPD's 2001 Pierce ladder truck, although the old veteran will still be available for duty if called upon, according to Katie Webb, administrative assistant for the CFPD.

"The old ladder truck is almost 20 years old, but it can still provide some level of service to the District if needed," Webb said.

The new Rosenbauer expands the tools available to incident commanders countywide, Webb said. For example, the ladder truck's unique aerial platform is safer and provides more strength for certain dangerous operations, like steep cliff rescues.

When planning the new truck's specifications, several new and/or planned construction projects — and the protection of those projects — were taken into consideration, according to Webb. Projects like the Aptos Village Project, the Capitola Mall renovation, and projected medium- and high-density housing projects were considered. The Rosenbauer was also designed to continue to protect Dominican Hospital, Capitola Village, Seascape Resort and other large multi-story commercial buildings, hotels, and industrial structures and complexes, Webb said.

The new truck offers a number of other safety and technology improvements that were not available in 2000 when the Pierce was purchased. In addition to a safer platform, the truck helps reduce firefighter exposure to carcinogens and it incorporates “GreenStar” technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and extend the lifetime of the motor.

The District financed the truck's purchase through JP Morgan and that was done according to the District’s Apparatus Replacement Schedule, which determines optimum apparatus retirement in accordance with National Fire Protection Association guidelines, according to Webb.

The new ladder truck is still being loaded with all the equipment needed for active duty, and when ready truck operators will receive required vehicle training.

One thing that won't change is the bell that graced the Pierce. That little piece of history has already been moved onto the Rosenbauer.

"Transferring the bell to each new ladder truck as the old truck is retired is a tradition we look forward to continuing for years to come," the CFPD said.