It was outfitted with a mast that could be raised to a maximum height of 55 feet. In 1894, a solution for the problem was found when a water tower was purchased from Hale. The department did experiment with early ladders pipes, but they were not a success due to the wooden aerial ladders not being sturdy enough to withstand the back pressure. Hose lines operating in the street were unable to penetrate far enough into the fire building to have an effect. Philadelphia’s firefighters had been challenged for years to effectively fight fires in multistory buildings when an exterior attack was warranted due to heavy fire conditions.
