The Mechanicstown Fire Department is home to Ladder Company 21, also known as "21 Truck." The ladder company's primary responsibility is to provide entry to the building, ventilate, and search for fire and victims. Elite members of the truck company maintain engine company skills, but specialize in skills specific to ladder company operations. These individuals face unique challenges on the fireground not seen by the engine and rescue companies. Some of these tasks include operating at heights of up to one hundred feet, climbing ladders to multiple stories, using powerful saws, and interior operations without the presence of a hoseline to guide the team out in the event of a problem. In addition, they are the team primarily responsible for locating and removing trapped victims.