Fire brigade gets 5 new hi-tech vans

A year after they were ordered from the Netherlands, five hi-tech rescue trucks have arrived to be used by the Mumbai fire brigade.

A year after they were ordered from the Netherlands, five hi-tech rescue trucks have arrived to be used by the Mumbai fire brigade.

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These vans are a part of the fire brigade's modernisation, which began after the November 26, 2008 terror attacks.

The vehicles, which have automatic gears, have been purchased to reduce the fire brigade's dependency on other agencies because these trucks have over 100 tools meant to deal with most disasters.

The civic body has spent Rs 3.5 crore on each truck hoping they will increase the response time in case of disasters.

The vans are equipped to deal with floods, rescue and fire operations, search and rescue operations, chemical disasters, earthquakes and road or rail accidents.

The vans will be kept at six regional command centres across the city including Byculla, Wadala, Chembur, Vikhroli, Marol and Borivli. Among other things, the mobile vans will have hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and mechanical tools. The trucks also contain an in-built generator as well as equipment and material to control chemical spills.

These vans will replace the rescue vans, which were purchased 30 years ago and have turned redundant.

"Our officers will be trained in a 15-day workshop by the manufacturers. They will be shown how to use these tools and vans to the optimum,' said AN Shinde, chief fire officer.