(KLZA)-- The Falls City Volunteer Fire Department held an open house Saturday which offered an opportunity for area residents to see the 2003 E-One ladder truck purchased by the City.

The truck replaces the 1981 ladder truck which had a 65-foot ladder.

Former fire fighters were among those taking a look at the new purchase.  The City bought the truck from the city of Burlington, Vermont at a cost of $59-thousand.  Dennis Becker Trucking of Senecas, Kansas hauled the truck back to Falls City.  New tires came with a price tag of $5,786 and two days of training by E-One personnel cost the city just over $4-thousand. 

Heritage Falls and Candles donated the door logo design for the truck. 

Assistant Fire Chief Jon McQueen noted the department did investigate the costs of purchasing a new truck versus used.  The new truck price tag was in the neighborhood of a million dollars.  

McQueen said he felt upgrading by 20 years was probably better for the department than making a 40-year jump in technology.  The truck has 78-thousand miles on it with 10,600 hours on the engine.  The engine was rebuilt in 2014.  A key addition with the new truck is the 95-foot ladder that can go four stories high and includes controls for the ladder in the basket. 

Due to the length of the truck,  it is not one you will see responding to every fire call in town.  The truck weights 69,700 pounds,  it is 48-feet, six-inches long,  is an inch shy of being 12-feet tall has with the mirrors is 116 inches wide or nine-feet, eight-inches.

The truck has been set up at some key buildings downtown including the Grand Weaver Hotel and the Tru-Value building that are among the tallest in town. That being said, you will see the truck out so it is not just sitting on the tires in the station.  McQueen says he believes the truck will serve the department well when needed.

Following the initial training the fire department can now use the truck to respond to calls when needed.  McQueen said the members of the department are excited about the new truck.  While a single driver can get the truck to the fire, it will take several firefighters to help operate the ladder, making sure the ground is level and strong enough for the outriggers to sit on. 

The truck will be known as T-1.