HICKORY, NC (March 15, 2019) — There’s a shiny, new red firetruck in the bay at Station 3 in West Hickory. This week, Hickory Fire Department (HFD) celebrated the arrival of a brand new, state-of-the art ladder truck from Smeal.
The new truck, dubbed Fire Ladder 3 or L3, replaces the former Fire Ladder 3, a 2000 American LaFrance Ladder aerial apparatus that was placed into service in 2001. The previous truck operates a 75-foot ladder and has now been placed into reserve status.
The new truck, a 2018 Spartan Smeal aerial fire apparatus, is equipped with a 105-foot rear mount telescoping ladder, aluminum body, and a Spartan Gladiator four-door tilt cab. The total cost of the new ladder truck was $908,363, which Hickory City Council approved purchase of the truck in June 2017. The truck was purchased from Smeal Fire Apparatus under the Houston-Galveston Area Council Interlocal Contract. The City of Hickory has participated in this purchasing format since November 2012.
“We’re excited to add this capable truck to Hickory Fire Department’s emergency response fleet,” said Fire Chief Matt Hutchinson. “The fire department’s equipment committee reviewed the capabilities of numerous manufacturers of apparatus, and determined that Smeal Fire Apparatus designs and builds emergency vehicles that meet or exceed the minimum standards set forth by the fire department while remaining within the department’s capital budget.”