Sheldon, Iowa — The long-awaited new aerial ladder truck has arrived at the Sheldon Fire Company.
The truck is a 2022 Spartan Gladiator chassis with a Smeal 100’ rear mount platform ladder truck, which the department has dubbed, “Ladder 15”.
The apparatus has a one-hundred-foot ladder and features a six-man cab with all of the latest safety features, 500HP Cummins diesel engine, 2000 gallon-per-minute Waterous fire pump, 300-gallon water tank, aluminum body construction with roll up compartment doors, state of art “Smart” ladder operations and control system, remote control platform monitor capable of flowing 2000 gallons-per-minute, easy load and storage with the ergonomic hose load for 5-inch supply hose. Fire fighters can stand on the ground and safely load 1000 feet of 5-inch inch supply hose, according to Sheldon Assistant Fire Chief Brad Hindt.
The truck was ordered on July 21, 2021, with a price tag of $1,082,752.00 through Feld Fire of Carroll, Iowa and Smeal-Spartan Emergency Response.
Hindt says the new ladder truck should be put into service within a couple of weeks as members need to mount tools, equipment, and load hose on it.
The Sheldon Fire Company invites the community to their open house on October 13th from 5 to 7pm to see the new Ladder 15. The Sheldon Fire Company thanks the Sheldon City Council, City Staff, and the Sheldon community for their continued support.
Photos courtesy of the Sheldon Fire Company
