Someone here posted an interesting video about wooden firemen ladders. They’re preferred because unlike aluminum, they will not collapse without notice. San Fransisco has an inspector at the ladder shop that measures the growth ring density. Home Despot tubafors need not apply for that job. Anyway, they use Douglas Fir and it looked a lot like the top picture. I don’t know where they find it today. Probably a spot held more secret than a good fishing hole.

Losing fingers since 1969