A vital piece of equipment in fighting major fires was the fire ladder.

In 1891, the MFB had only two extension ladders, one which was an old imported fire ladder which took 15 minutes to put up.

As buildings in the city were built taller, ladders needed to be longer to elevate fire fighters and water hoses up to the height of the fire.

Many of the early ladders were very difficult to manage. The first ladders were pulled to the fire by the firemen, then they were designed to be pulled by fire horses, later by steam engines and finally were motorised and petrol driven.

All early ladders had to be extended by hand...phew.

Fire fighters were pleased when in 1909 the MFB imported the Morris Magirus extension fire fighting ladder which was extended by "carbonic acid gas under pressure". In 1922 the MFB engineers constructed an 88 feet "petrol electric" ladder.

Ladder technology continued to streamline and by 1939 the Brigade were the proud owners of the "modern", reliable and functional Leyland Metz all steel 126ft ladder.