27-03-2025
Crescent Hose Company acquires new ladder truck
For some volunteer fire departments, it can be tough to keep up financially with the latest fire fighting technology.
But thanks to the community's support and the dedication of the volunteers with the North East Fire Department, Crescent Hose Company now has a state-of-the-art ladder truck ready to respond to calls.
'It comes down to we do the cherry fest every year, and every sausage sub, every basket of fries or chicken tenders or whatever it is that you buy helps the fire department. It took 25 years' worth of that for us to be able to help get this truck on the ground,' said Mike Kelley, Crescent Hose Company rescue chief.
Kelley said the new truck arrived at the station about three weeks ago.
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After an in-depth training program, this truck and volunteer firefighters are ready for their next call.
The ladder stretches 107 feet into the sky at a 35-degree angle, and it's going to help the firefighters fight larger fires with a growing industry in the North East area.
The ladder truck can pump 2,000 gallons of water per minute, but it can also help firefighters access some hard-to-reach places.
'The height of the ladder is the biggest thing. We have a lot of industry in North East and the industry is growing, so we have larger buildings; we have more buildings than we used to have,' said Kelley. 'We needed a bigger truck with a bigger pump on it to handle if we have to knock down a fire in one of these larger, industrial locations.'
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Kelley said the ladder will also come in handy if they have to evacuate people from high-up windows.
According to one lieutenant, getting the truck set up is a quick and easy process.
'It's a lot quicker setup time, it maneuvers a lot easier, a lot faster with everything. It's just a beast,' said Donovan Skelly, Crescent Hose Company lieutenant.
Skelly said the truck is a huge improvement compared to their last ladder truck.
The ladder truck has already responded to one call so far, and the rescue chief said it's ready to serve the North East community.
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