Madison Co. Fire Dept. gets first-ever ladder truck

MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. — The Madison County Fire Department recently purchased its first ladder truck, according to Chief Eric Turner.

“It’s a late ’80s model truck,” Turner said. “We are fortunate enough it’s got 20,000 to 21,000 miles on it.”

The ladder stretches 80 feet, allowing crews to put out fires from above. “There’s buildings built now within the county that we can’t reach with ground ladders, reach the roof of them,” Turner said.

Turner said it also allows firefighters to rescue people in hard-to-reach places quicker and safer.

The fire chief said a new ladder truck typically costs about $1 million. Turner said they purchased the ladder truck for about $30,000. “Last year, we were fortunate enough to get a few new trucks, and that allowed us to get rid of some older trucks and we took that money and kind of pulled it together to be able to purchase this truck,” he said.

Turner said they were able to purchase the truck from the Covington Fire Department at a discounted price because that department got grant money for a new truck.

The chief said the truck just went operational within the last week. “It hasn’t made its first run yet, but it’s available right now,” he said.

Turner said the truck will be housed at the fire station near McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport but will respond to all commercial calls in the county.