MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Murfreesboro Fire‑Rescue (MFRD) is adding some serious muscle to its aerial operations. The department has placed an order for three Pierce Ascendant 107‑foot heavy‑duty aerial ladders—an investment aimed squarely at keeping pace with the city’s rapid growth, rising density and increasingly complex response environment. The order, secured through Siddons‑Martin Emergency Group, marks one of the largest single aerial purchases in department history.
Deputy Chief Jamie Bigelow said the decision comes at a time when Murfreesboro’s landscape is changing fast. More apartment complexes, tighter access roads and multi‑story construction have created new challenges for firefighters navigating narrow streets and congested neighborhoods. The Ascendant’s single‑rear‑axle design gives crews the maneuverability they need, while still delivering the 107‑foot reach required for taller structures. “We’re confident these apparatus will play a critical role in supporting our crews and protecting our city,” Bigelow said.
MFRD, established in 1902, now serves more than 172,000 residents across 11 stations with 242 uniformed personnel responding to roughly 25,000 calls each year. As a Class 1 ISO department—the highest rating possible—Murfreesboro Fire‑Rescue is recognized nationally for excellence in suppression capability, training, water supply, emergency communications and response performance. The new aerials are designed to reinforce that standard.
Each truck comes loaded with modern features: an Enforcer chassis, PACCAR MX‑13 engine, Waterous 2,000‑GPM pump, 500‑gallon tank, integrated body cameras, high‑visibility scene lighting, remote aerial controls and a Lyfe pulley rescue system at the tip. The combination of extended vertical reach and compact footprint makes the Ascendant ideal for Murfreesboro’s mix of hilly terrain, tight subdivisions and dense commercial corridors.
Two of the new ladders will replace older units that will shift into reserve status. The third will staff a brand‑new ladder company at Station 12, expanding citywide coverage and improving response times in one of Murfreesboro’s fastest‑growing districts.
Deputy Chief Bigelow noted that the purchasing process was unusually hands‑on. Pierce and Siddons‑Martin brought MFRD leadership to the PACCAR facility to meet engineers and see the build process up close—a level of transparency Bigelow called “thorough and positive.” The department also emphasized customization, ensuring each truck meets Murfreesboro’s operational needs.
With the city continuing to grow upward and outward, Murfreesboro Fire‑Rescue’s investment in these new aerials underscores a simple message: staying ahead of the curve is part of the job, and the department intends to keep it that way.
