Mumbai: The Mumbai Fire Brigade(MFB) is upgrading its firefighting capabilities by procuring new, advanced turntable ladders. The civic body has issued a tender for four turntable ladders with a height of 68 meters.
These ladders allows them to reach up to the 24th floor of high-rise buildings, significantly aiding in rescue operations.
The MFB has more than 270 vehicles like fire engines, jumbo water tankers and ladder vans. There are around 20 ladders; the highest that can reach 90 m is with the Byculla fire station.
In 2015, the MFB added the 90m snorkel to its fleet which can scale up to 30 floors and has a turntable ladder and elevated water pumps to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.
The MFB currently has turntable ladders of 30m, 37m, 40m, 55m, and 64m, with additional 81m and 70m ladders in Borivali and Vikhroli, respectively.
Four new 68m ladders will soon be added, capable of reaching 22nd to 24th floors, improving response times by 5-7 minutes.
“These ladders feature advanced systems for faster rescue of both firefighters and citizens, with a lift mechanism for quicker evacuations. A tender has been issued for the ladders, including design, specifications, and a 5-year maintenance contract,” said a fire official.
“The ladder can also be used as a crane. It can serve as a light tower, with its lights being useful in areas with insufficient lighting. Additionally, it has space to accommodate stretchers and wheelchairs. Each ladder can evacuate up to four people at a time,” he added.