The original station was built in the 1980s, and it was built for just two people. The benefit of the newer station is pretty obvious. It will add room for firefighters and other staff members.

There is also room for additional trucks.

Officials say the new station will allow crews to operate more efficiently, and it was not a burden to tax-payers.

The chief went on to say the station is also better-suited to accommodate both male and female firefighters.

That’s a significant upgrade from the original 1950s station -- Mesa’s oldest -- that had plumbing problems, was too cramped for modern emergency response vehicles and had other structural concerns, said Mesa Fire and Medical Department Chief Harry Beck.

“Fire trucks were a lot smaller then,” Smith said. “They weren’t as high profile, they didn’t have the same technology as we have now, so we literally were having a tough time trying to fit our trucks inside that station. The newer style gives us that accessibility.”

Mesa voters approved public safety bonds twice for this project: $4 million in November 2013 to pay for construction and about $1.7 million in 2008 to acquire the property, according to the city.

Having a fully staffed ladder truck company provides the ability to compliment fire attack functions to include: search and rescue of victims, forced entry into structures, horizontal and vertical ventilation to release toxic smoke from a structure fire, and the ability to have a 75-foot ladder for an elevated master stream on large fires and defensive fires.

The ladder truck also carries 480 gallons of water and has a water pump capable of pumping 2,000 gallons of water per minute.

All crews from station 14 are currently going through an in-service training for the new ladder truck which consists of a manufacturer overview of functionality and capabilities, hands on drills, and an emergency vehicle driving course and over the road course.