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.