The Wayzata Fire Department has placed a new 2026 Pierce Ascendant 110-foot ladder truck into service, replacing a ladder truck that had served the department for approximately 30 years.
The new apparatus brings greater reach, increased water capacity and improved maneuverability for firefighters responding throughout Wayzata.
Despite having a longer ladder, the Pierce has a shorter overall vehicle length than the truck it replaces. Its single rear axle also provides greater maneuverability — an important consideration on Wayzata’s hills, narrow streets and tighter locations.
The truck is designed to be quicker and easier to position and set up at a fire scene. It carries 500 gallons of water, compared with 200 gallons on the department’s previous ladder truck, and has pumping capacity of up to 1,500 gallons per minute, compared with 1,250 gallons per minute on the previous apparatus.
Traditional Push-In Ceremony Marks Start of Service
Members of the Wayzata Fire Department and Wayzata City Council marked the truck’s arrival with a traditional push-in ceremony on the evening of Sept. 1.
During the ceremony, firefighters and City Council members joined together to push the new ladder truck into the fire station, formally marking the beginning of its service in Wayzata.
Push-in ceremonies are a longstanding fire service tradition associated with the days of horse-drawn firefighting equipment, when firefighters would manually push apparatus back into the station after returning from a call.
Residents Can See New Truck This Fall
Residents will have two upcoming opportunities to get a closer look at the new ladder truck and learn more about the equipment.
The Wayzata Fire Department’s annual Pancake Breakfast is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The truck will also be featured during the City of Wayzata’s annual City Showcase, scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5.
The new ladder truck represents a significant update to one of the department’s most important pieces of emergency equipment and is expected to serve Wayzata firefighters and residents for years to come.
