Standing by the wooden ladder

Lee sands down an old, wood fire ladder for the city of San Francisco’s fire department.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Craftsman Jerry Lee is shown in the city’s public works building, where the city Fire Department contines to make and repair its own wood fire ladders.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Shop supervisor Mike Braun wipes the sawdust from the rungs of a wood fire ladder being repaired for the city of San Francisco’s fire department.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The detailed construction of one of the hand-made wood fire ladders in the City of San Francisco public works shop is shown. San Francisco is the only city in the nation still making and repairing its own wood fire ladders. Each one is crafted out of select Douglas fir.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

A log book dating back to 1917 shows the status and condition of all of the hand-made wood fire ladders in the City of San Francisco.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The metal name plate adorns every one of the hand-made wood fire ladders in the City of San Francisco public works shop.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Some of the tools found in the City of San Francisco public works shop, where carpenters still construct hand-made wood fire ladders.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The craftsmen in the City of San Francisco public works shop make the city’s fire ladders and cast the metal eagles that adorn fire trucks.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)