Poudre Fire Authority Unveils New 100-Foot Tower Apparatus for Old Town Fort Collins and CSU Rescue Operations

Poudre Fire Authority has placed a new specialized rescue apparatus into service featuring advanced technology and a 100-foot aerial ladder designed to respond to complex emergencies across Fort Collins, including high-angle rescues, confined space incidents and structural collapses.

The nearly 47-foot-long Tower 1 was built by Rosenbauer through local dealer Ikon Fire over approximately two years and delivered three weeks ago. Crews spent that time installing equipment, training on the new apparatus and preparing it for emergency deployment.

The Tower will primarily serve Old Town Fort Collins, Colorado State University campus and the Poudre River corridor, according to PFA's October 30 announcement. Specialty teams will use the apparatus to respond to high-angle rescues, confined space situations and compromised structures such as vehicle-into-building crashes.

Extended Reach Addresses Urban Buildings and Campus Structures

The 100-foot aerial ladder enables firefighters to access upper floors of multi-story buildings throughout Fort Collins' urban core and CSU campus, where structures range from four to twelve stories.

Old Town Fort Collins features a mix of historic and modern buildings up to eight stories tall, including hotels, apartments and commercial blocks where the extended aerial reach is necessary for rooftop operations and upper-floor evacuations. CSU's high-rise dormitories, classroom complexes and athletic facilities require similar aerial access capabilities for rescue operations and firefighting.

The Poudre River presents unique rescue challenges with steep banks, limited ground access and swift water hazards. The Tower apparatus can establish anchor points for rope rescue systems or provide elevated lighting and platform access above riverbanks during water emergencies.

National Fire Protection Association standards guide fire apparatus specifications, and tower apparatus typically serve 15 to 20 years in front-line service before transitioning to reserve status. Modern tower apparatus feature electronic stabilization systems, high-capacity pumps, compressed air foam systems and integrated safety technologies designed to minimize firefighter exposure to carcinogens.

Previous Tower Transitions to Reserve Status After 16 Years

The previous Tower 1 was built in 2009 and reached the end of its front-line service cycle based on age, maintenance records and operational costs. Industry standards recommend considering apparatus replacement every 10 to 15 years for front-line units, with specialized apparatus like towers often serving longer.

The 2009 apparatus will be renamed Tower 2 and continue serving as a reserve unit for approximately 15 more years. Reserve apparatus provide backup coverage when front-line units are down for maintenance or during major incidents requiring multiple specialized vehicles.

PFA follows NFPA guidelines emphasizing safety as the primary factor in apparatus replacement decisions. The authority conducts annual safety inspections and maintains detailed maintenance records to evaluate whether apparatus meet operational reliability standards.

Two-Year Custom Build Process Required Extensive Design and Engineering

Fort Collins-based Ikon Fire, the authorized Rosenbauer dealer for Northern Colorado, coordinated the two-year build process that included specification design, engineering, manufacturing and quality assurance testing.

The specification phase involved collaboration between PFA staff, Ikon Fire and Rosenbauer engineers to identify operational requirements including crew size, equipment storage needs and rescue capabilities specific to Fort Collins' geography and building structures.

Manufacturing included chassis assembly, body fabrication and integration of electrical, hydraulic and rescue systems. Quality assurance testing verified weight distribution, electrical systems, aerial performance and compliance with NFPA standards before delivery.

The three-week post-delivery period allowed crews to install local equipment, complete hands-on training and familiarize themselves with controls, maintenance routines and safety features before placing the apparatus into emergency service.

Modern tower apparatus include expanded storage compartments for specialized rescue equipment, advanced aerial ladder systems with electronic controls, high-capacity pumps and generator systems. Clean cab designs minimize firefighter exposure to carcinogens, while data logging systems track maintenance needs.

PFA Serves 206,000 Residents Across 235 Square Miles

Poudre Fire Authority operates 13 fire stations serving Fort Collins, Timnath, LaPorte, Bellvue and surrounding areas across approximately 235 square miles in Larimer and Weld counties. The authority responded to more than 25,000 calls in 2023, including 287 fire incidents.

PFA was established in 1981 through an intergovernmental agreement between Fort Collins and Poudre Valley Fire Protection District. The authority received accredited status from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International in 2015.

PFA firefighters recently completed specialized dementia response training, earning recognition as a dementia friendly agency. A firefighter was featured in NoCo Style Magazine discussing technical rescue operations in Poudre Canyon.

Ikon Fire operates from Fort Collins serving fire departments throughout Northern Colorado as an authorized dealer for multiple apparatus manufacturers including Rosenbauer, a global leader in fire vehicle manufacturing.