Mumbai fire brigade (MFB) will soon have another snorkel in its armoury to fight fires in high-rise buildings in the city. Months after buying a 90-metre ladder, the civic body has decided to buy another 81-metre snorkel at the cost of Rs 15.70 crore.
The snorkel, also known as aerial hydraulic platform, to be used for dousing the fire, can reach up to the 26th floor of a high-rise building.
The Bronto Skylift F78 snorkel will be procured from Finland. This is the same company from which the MFB had earlier bought 70-metre and 90-metre snorkels.
According to the civic officials, as Mumbai is made up of islands, the city is growing vertically as there is lack of space. There are presently 6,500 high rises in the city, where carrying out firefighting and rescue operations is always cumbersome and difficult. In the past few years, several buildings above 70 metres have been constructed in the city.
Post the 26/11 terror attacks, the MFB had decided to buy tall fully automatic ladders, as it will help the firemen in rescue work without endangering their life. Accordingly, the 70-metre snorkel was also bought from Bronto, Finland, at a cost of Rs 8.5 crore. The MFB then bought a 90-metre hydraulic platform in July 2015.
“The 81-metre snorkel will considerably improve the fire brigade’s fire fighting and rescue capabilities in high rise buildings. The fire brigade will now have three snorkels,” said a senior fire official.
