South Lake Tahoe's new truck quickly becoming valuable fire-fighting tool

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It has been a long wait. The December, 2020 arrival of a new ladder fire truck for South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue was a journey that began in 2013 when a Ferrara ladder truck has been ordered to the tune of almost $1,050,000. That truck replaced an aging 1982 truck and was paid for by California sales tax funds that are for public safety. As soon as that truck arrived in 2014 though, it was trouble. After working with Ferrara on constant repairs, the company stopped cooperating when in 2017 the truck broke down on the way to the commemoration of the new public safety memorial at Happy Homestead Cemetery.

After a "lemon law" lawsuit against the manufacturer that the City settled for $1,775,000, a new truck was ordered at a cost of just under $1.2M.

The new fire truck, known as Truck 2, has responded to three fires since arriving and has been out to many more calls. A fire truck is equipped with rescue apparatus, and a fire engine pumps water. The new truck carries an assortment of ladders, the tallest one goes a distance of 107 feet which is beneficial for attacking a fire from above to prevent spread.

Prior to arrival SLTFR relied on Tahoe Douglas Fire's truck and Lake Valley Fire's engines as part of their mutual aid on fire calls. Having their own truck keeps the community on both sides of the state line and south shore safer.

Truck 2 is housed at Station 2 across from South Tahoe Middle School on Lake Tahoe Blvd.