Wooden Ladders

[smokeeater51]

I just looked at the article and pictures of the Hollywood hotel fire. Did anyone else notice the wooden ladders? I didn't know that they were still in use, let alone by such a large fire department. I'm not knocking it, just found it....interesting.
We got rid of an old Maxim ladder truck a few years ago that still had wooden ladders, but they were there for weight distribution. Does anyone else still use em'?

[eyecue]

You cant them new any more. Last time I checked they werent being made. It takes too long to cure the wood before they can be assembled. You have to get fiberglass or aluminum now. The nice thing about wood was the weight wasnt as high as fiberglass and the benefit to both is non conductivity. The other thing about them is when you test them anually, they test to ultimate failure or they pass!

[ADSNWFLD]

Wood ladders are still being made by Alco, it's a separate company from the Aluminum Ladder Company. But may be owned by the same parent co. ? Many West coast communities still use them.
Their was a good artical on ladders in a issue of Fire Chief last year, don't remember the month.
Any type of ladder has its advantages and disadvantages. I personally like aluminum, but that's just me.