It was a perfect day for the city’s new ladder truck to be delivered.

Winchester Fire-EMS accepted delivery Thursday afternoon of Truck 3, a new 100-foot ladder truck to replace the city’s 32-year-old tiller truck.

“We’ve been like kids on Christmas morning,” Winchester Fire-EMS Chief Cathy Rigney said as firefighters started to become familiar with the new truck behind Station 1.

The $1.1 million truck was purchased with FEMA grant, provided the city match the grant with about $100,000, she said.

The truck was designed by a committee of Winchester firefighters, she said, to the city’s needs. Though it is primarily a ladder truck, it has a water tank and can be used to fight fires as well, she said.

“This should (serve) the community for a long, long time,” she said. When the ladder is fully extended, firefighters will be able to look down at the top of Beverly White Towers, she said.

The truck is already mostly stocked with its equipment and tools, which were purchased with the grant funds as well, she said.

The city’s other ladder truck and its 75-foot aerial, will be placed on reserve status and moved to Station 1. Truck 3 will be based at Station 3 near the industrial park, she said.

The new truck is scheduled to go in service Dec. 3, following a push-in ceremony, and make its official debut that night in the city’s Christmas parade carrying Santa Claus, she said.

“Santa will have a new sleigh,” she said.

Contact Fred at fred.petke@winchestersun.com.