Altoona Fire Department relies on surrounding cities

Friday, June 17, 2016
Emma Wheeler | WQOW

Altoona (WQOW)- When fires strike around the Chippewa Valley, local fire departments said it's an effort that goes farther than just one department, especially when they're high in the sky.

The Altoona Fire Department said, for fighting flames in larger buildings, often times they rely on Eau Claire Fire and other surrounding departments.  Altoona does not have their own ladder truck, which they said, costs around $750,000.  This meant that, in order to tame the flames from above, they need help from Eau Claire and other departments.  The Eau Claire Fire Department said they have two ladder trucks, but for as long as they can remembers, that has been enough.  But with more developments in River Prairie it does raise some concerns.

"It is a concern, because there's larger buildings coming to Altoona.  We have to come to an agreement with the other agencies and getting that specific for, you know, a Woodman's incident, or a Staybridge Hotel incident, The Classics," said Altoona Fire Chief Jesse James.

The fire department said although their collaboration has been enough, with more developments they might need a ladder truck of their own, and could look in to purchasing one in a few years.

They said, what's an even more important collaboration is being able to share personnel, an effort that is shared both ways.

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