2000 Pierce Dash Sky-Arm Tower

"Tower 47"

Tower 47 was a 2000 Pierce Dash 100’ Sky-Arm Tower Ladder.  It was equipped with a Detroit Diesel Series 60 diesel engine, and an Allison automatic transmission.  Tower 47 was second out on all first due structure fires, and special assignment mutual aid; as well as second out on RIT, and technical rescue responses, with seating and Scott 45 minute SCBA for 6.

Tower 47's Sky-Arm feature was a new advancement in aerial apparatus technology. The Sky Arm feature allowed the aerial to articulate the last 18’ of the main for access to difficult areas including large parapet walls (see below).  The tower bucket was also able to articulate 28° from side to side, allowing the bucket to become parallel with structures from different angles.

Tower 47 was purchased to replace the refurbished 1989 Ward LaFrance Tele-Squirt, and was housed on October 16, 2004 during the Triple Housing Celebration. It served for 19 years until it was retired on May 27, 2021. It was sold in 2021 to the New London Fire Department of New London, Minnesota, where it became only one of two aerial ladders in the county. It now serves under the new designation "Tower 4599."

The equipment compliment upon retirement was as follows:

• 2,000 gpm 2 stage Waterous pump
  • 300 gallon water tank
• 8,000kw PTO Generator
• Hose Compliment:
  • 2 - 200’ 1 ¾” pre-connect
  • 1 - 200’ 2 ½” pre-connect
  • 500’ 5” supply
  • 300’ 3” supply
  • 50’ 1 ¾” in aerial bucket
• Ladder Compliment:
  • 2 – 16’ roof ladders
  • 1 – 24’ extension ladder
  • 1 – 35’ extension ladder
  • 1 – 14’ narrow extension ladder
  • 1 – 10’ collapsible attic ladder
  • 1 – 14’ roof ladder (on aerial main)
  • 100’ Sky Arm aerial main
• Technical Rescue:
  • 2 – rope rigging bags
  • 3 – 200’ bags of life safety rope
  • 1 – 200’ bag of life safety rope with a pre-connected 4-1 mechanical advantage
  • 1 – wire mesh stokes basket w/ backboard
• Rapid Intervention:
  • 1 – Scott 60 minute SCBA RIT Pack
  • 200’ search line
    • 2 – 25’ Retractable large area search tethers
• Onboard Breathing Air supplied to aerial bucket
• 1 – Stihl MS 461 R Rescue Chain Saw
• 1 – Echo quikvent Chain Saw
• 1 – Stihl TS 400 Circular Saw
• 2 – electric smoke ejectors
• 1 – gas positive pressure ventilation fan

Pictured above: New London Fire Department (New London, MN) Tower 4599, former Lionville Tower 47.

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