Medford fire officials are ready to order a $2.3 million fire truck designed to help save people from burning buildings.

Medford City Council last Thursday night unanimously authorized the purchase of the massive “Ascendant” truck with a 107-foot-long ladder.

To build the custom-made vehicle, Pierce Manufacturing of Wisconsin will take up to 50 months.

The tiller-style truck requires two drivers to negotiate tight corners and maneuver around obstacles. One driver sits in the front, and the other sits in the rear.

Medford Fire Chief Eric Thompson, who hopes for a quicker delivery time, said the new ladder truck is needed as Medford’s population grows and more buildings, including multi-story apartments and hotels, are constructed.

“Larger urban metro cities, all of them have larger tiller trucks,” Thompson said.

To avoid a 3% price hike, Medford needs to place an order before July 26 with Pierce Manufacturing.

The city will use a fire apparatus reserve fund to pay for the vehicle.

The fire truck replaces the existing 25-year-old reserve ladder truck and a 16-year-old heavy-rescue fire engine, also known as a pumper.

“I’m really excited to get this new equipment,” Councilor Nick Card said. “It’s really important to stay on top of this stuff.”

He said Medford fire must have top-notch equipment as the city continues to grow.

By purchasing one ladder truck instead of replacing an existing 100-foot ladder truck and pumper, the fire department estimates it will save more than $1 million in new vehicle purchases.

Thompson said the city will have both an existing ladder truck with a bucket as well as the new truck, which doesn’t have a bucket because it is designed to nose into windows or rooftops in tall buildings to help save people from fire.

“It helps us get closer,” he said. “It helps us get the tools and resources to the fire.”

With a driver in the rear, the fire truck can better swing around obstacles while turning, can better negotiate roundabouts and have easier access around apartments and other high-rise buildings.

The ladder extends 107 feet high, or 100 feet horizontally, and has a 750 pounds tip load. The hose delivers 1,500-gallons-per-minute. Because the new ladder truck is longer than the existing ladder truck, Fire Station 13 on Highland Drive will be modified in 2025 to accommodate it. Fire Station 13 is located next to a roundabout.

In addition to the ladder, the fire truck has other equipment and hoses plus lots of storage space to help firefighters carry the tools needed to extricate people from buildings, including the disabled, elderly and children.

Thompson said it’s sometimes difficult to persuade people to step out onto the ladder with the aid of firefighters, but he said Medford fire training helps makes an otherwise unnerving experience easier.

The Medford Fire Department currently has eight fire engines to boost pressure, two ladder trucks, four brush trucks, one water tender and an assortment of staff vehicles.

Thompson said it is important to upgrade aging equipment to be ready, particularly in a fire-prone area.

“At a minimum, all these engines and ladder truck are a 25-year investment,” he said.

Thompson said the city sent firefighters to fire departments in California, Washington and around Oregon before recommending the tiller ladder truck.

Transportation of the fire truck is typically on a flatbed trailer towed by a semi-truck.

Over the next several years, Medford’s population is expected to increase to more than 100,000.