Firemen can now reach 25-storey bldgs

Reaching a height of 25 storeys, the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) will soon get its tallest automated ladder. The 70-metre Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) is a good 10 metres above the current tallest ALP.

Reaching a height of 25 storeys, the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) will soon get its tallest automated ladder. The 70-metre Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) is a good 10 metres above the current tallest ALP.

"The snorkel can reach up to 25 floors and can be operated from 200 metres away," said Uday Tatkare, the MFB's chief fire officer.

ALPs are referred to as snorkels by firemen. "We will pay 2 per cent extra for the entire system to be controlled by a remote.

We will get the snorkel by early January 2010," added Tatkare. The snorkel will cost the BMC Rs 8.5 crore.

Manual problems

The 60-metre ALP, which was used in the Taj rescue operations on 26/11, can reach only 18 storeys and is completely manual.
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It needs a driver to move around the machine. And the firemen in the rescue cage at the top of the ladder have to manually change direction.

Too Short: The 60-metre ladder that was used in the Taj rescue operations on 26/11, can reach only 18 storeys.

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The new ALP will eliminate all these problems. In a situation like 26/11, firemen could've saved precious rescue minutes if they had an automated ALP at their disposal.
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