Dramatic ascent Dramatic ascent (May 28, 2003)

Caption with Carol Ivie photo in print edition: On the tower of the Menlo Park Fire District's Station 1 on Middlefield Road, firefighters try out a new 2003 Pierce ladder truck with a 100-foot ladder. Firefighter Rob Mahoney is operating the $660,000 machine, which will be able to reach higher buildings than the district's present "Quint" with a 75-foot ladder. The new truck will enter service when 18 firefighters have been trained to operate it -- six for each shift -- probably early in July, said Division Chief Rich Hall. Then the Quint will be traded in for more than $200,000.