Melbourne firefighters now have a new tool to help them protect the city. The Melbourne Fire Department’s new 'Tower 24' aerial ladder truck will be able to reach the tallest buildings in town.
The ladder is 20 feet longer than the previous truck, allowing firefighters to get two floors higher than before.
The new Sutphen SP-95 truck weighs 18,000 pounds less than the current truck meaning less wear and tear on roadways and better gas mileage.
City council approved the new truck back in December at a cost of nearly $975,000.
Firefighters are training on it for the next few weeks and it will be placed in service in March.