New aerial fire truck now in service for the Purdue University Fire Department

Ladder 12 is a 2019 Pierce Ascendant 107. It was recently put into service by the Purdue University Fire Department. (Photo provided by Administration Operations Communications) Download image

The Purdue University Fire Department recently placed a new aerial fire truck into service.

Ladder 12 is a 2019 Pierce Ascendant 107 and replaces the existing aerial truck, a 1996 Simon LTI. The new truck provides improvements in design, safety, equipment and technology. Fire Chief Kevin Ply says with continuous change and growth on campus, the new truck provides improved capabilities for emergency response.

“With the ongoing development of the Discovery Park District and several new buildings on campus under construction, we sought a new truck that would better serve our campus – with more than 60,000 people for at least nine months of the year, our campus is larger and more densely populated than many Indiana cities,” Ply says.

Ply says Ladder 12 includes 500 gallons of water, a water pump, ground ladders, an aerial ladder and large diameter hose supply. It also carries the department’s rope rescue equipment for aerial rescues.

“Our current aerial has made multiple rescues on campus over the years, even as recently as this summer,” Ply says.  “Purdue firefighters are trained as paramedics and EMTs. Ladder 12 also carries emergency medical supplies, to better serve the emergency medical needs of our campus community."                  

Fire trucks can require up to 18 months to manufacture, but Ladder 12 is a factory “demo” vehicle, which greatly reduced the time to delivery. “It met the specifications needed by Purdue Fire,” Ply says. “There were a few minor adjustments, but there were significant savings with purchasing a truck that was already built. Plus, we received the truck in just a month.”

The old aerial truck was auctioned off on govdeals.com. The winning bidder was the Flora Fire Department located in Flora, Indiana.

Ladder 12 by the numbers:

• Overall turning radius improves to 39 feet, 1 inch from 51 feet, 2 inches.
• Overall weight drops to 55,600 pounds from 71,060 pounds.
• Overall length of 39 feet, 3 inches from 47 feet, 11 inches.
• Carries 500 gallons of water compared with 250 gallons on the existing truck.