The trucks are the first of six being added to the fire service that bear the bold black and red color scheme.

"I never in my life thought I would be listening to Isaac Hayes playing "Shaft" at the introduction of some fire equipment, but that's all right. That's OK,'' said Birmingham Mayor William Bell with a laugh.

In addition to the three ladder trucks, the department is also adding three pump trucks. They will be distributed throughout the city and designed specifically to meet the needs of the communities where they will be stationed. "What a day it has been,'' said Battalion Chief Tyrone Fornest. "We've spent truly a remarkable past few weeks in preparation for what we're about to see."

"There's a lot of excitement,'' said BFRS Chief Charles Gordon.

Bell said that when he interviewed Gordon for the chief's job more than two years ago, Gordon made a commitment to the mayor that he would do everything in his power to modernize the fire department to give them the tools they needed to best protect the citizens. "If you commit to me that you will change this fire department to make it one that can respond to any emergency with the best equipment, you have my total support,'' Bell said he told Gordon. "Today marks a down payment on that commitment."

Bell said the fire service is extremely important to the community. "It is the one department where there's little controversy because everybody depends on them whether their house is on fire, of they're having a heart attack. No matter the malady,'' he said. "It's (the citizens') tax dollars and we want you to know that it's being spent wisely, spent to protect you. When you pick up that phone and dial 911 and you say you need, you've got the best people coming with the best equipment."