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Mayor Tory and Toronto Fire Services Chief Matthew Pegg unveil North America’s tallest firefighting apparatus

May 5, Toronto – Toronto mayor John Tory and Chief Matthew Pegg unveiled Toronto’s newest piece of specialized firefighting and rescue equipment the Bronto Skylift 70m articulated aerial unit, nicknamed “Tower 1.”

Tower 1 is the tallest firefighting apparatus in North America and, at full extension, the aerial platform will reach an elevation of 70 metres, or 230 feet, from the ground to the base of platform, which is approximately 22 storeys high. Tower 1 reaches double the height of Toronto’s next tallest aerial apparatus that can reach 11 storeys. The new apparatus will provide Toronto Fire Services with much-needed operational versatility and extra protection in a “vertical city” that is expected to continue to grow in height and density over the coming decades.

A recent report by international consultancy firm Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) found that Toronto has the most active construction cranes among 14 major cities in North America, having led the crane count since 2015. The number of fixed cranes on construction sites increased 21 per cent in the first quarter of 2022, with increases seen in commercial, residential and mixed-use projects.

The truck will be stationed downtown at 207 Front St. E., where there is the greatest density of high rises, but can be redeployed where needed to help with fighting fires, search and rescue, industrial emergencies, rope rescues such as at the Scarborough Bluffs and more. Specialized training of staff is underway.

Tower 1 will also provide Toronto firefighters with an unparalleled ability to get above and over top of buildings and to work around overhead obstructions that are common in the high-density urban areas of Toronto.

The high volume, master stream nozzle at the end of the platform is capable of flowing up to 3,800 litres of water per minute, providing crews with enhanced aerial firefighting capabilities.