KEYT recently profiled a new addition to the Santa Maria (CA) Fire Department's fleet.

The acquisition of the new $1.5 million tractor-drawn aerial ladder quint was made possible by an Assistance to Firefighters Grant. 

"This is like driving a tractor trailer. That’s what we’ve been preaching to the guys on the floor. Not only are you worried about the front part, but you’re also worried about the back trailer part, so it’s definitely longer, there’s more moving parts. It’s a different expertise,” said Firefighter AJ Tevis.

The new rig is expected to help with maneuverability on city streets, which are undergoing significant development.

Read more above.

Santa Maria Fire Department Unveils State-Of-The-Art Ladder Truck

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Irving (TX) Fire Department 2016 Pierce Arrow XT Tractor-Drawn Aerial

Recent news reports looked at a rare type of fire station about the be dedicatd in Salt Lake City: a firehouse that creates as much renewable energy as it uses.

Station No. 3 generates its own power from a 110-kilowatt solar array with more than 300 panels. It also has energy-efficient features like triple-pane window glazing.

The city says it's the second in the country to have be a net-zero energy building, after another Salt Lake City fire station was dedicated in May. See the video for that firehouse below.

Read more about the features of the station above.