Tiller operator Matt Neilson, standing at the door of his cab, and driver Bob Hales show off Alameda Fire Department's newest addition: a tractor-drawn, aerial ladder truck that will replace the 1991 aerial ladder Truck No. 1, pictured at right.

Unlike the present-day Truck No. 1, the new acquisition — budgeted in 2011-2012 — will allow for improved maneuverability on narrow streets and courts. "Having a reliable state-of-the-art ladder truck to replace a 21-year-old piece of equipment is a major improvement in our operational readiness and our emergency response capability," stated AFD Chief Mike D'Orazi in the press release announcing the acquistion.