The Times of India            28.12.2013 

Aurangabad Municipal Corporation to acquire new fire fighting vehicle

AURANGABAD: The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) long pending dream of acquiring a skylift aerial ladder platform will materialize soon as a Finland-based manufacturer has expressed willingness to supply the vehicle.

The skylift aerial ladder platform is a highly sophisticated fire-fighting vehicle and will can lift an officer up to 42 meters from ground level. Earlier, on three occasions, no suppliers bid for the AMC's tenders to supply the vehicle. The vehicle is not manufactured in India and Finland-based companies are among the few manufacturers around the world.

Shivaji Zanzan the AMC's chief fire officer, said on Thursday that the civic body's fire department was in its final stage of vehicle acquisition. "The supplier's tender will be opened next week and placed before the general body," he said, adding that the AMC had earmarked a fund of Rs 8.5 crore for the purpose.

Zanzan also said that the vehicle is likely to arrive in the current financial year. "We will most probably acquire it before summer," he added.

Right now, the fire brigade operates with a small fleet of five vehicles, which douse fire up to a height of 10 meters. However, the high-rise buildings have been growing rapidly around the city and creating a demand for vehicles that can deal with fire incidents happening in such buildings.

Currently, the vehicles are available only in cities like Mumbai and Pune. It is equipped with telescopic ladder with modern and powerful fire fighting water pumps and other latest gadgets. It is extremely compact thereby enabling it to enter congested streets and narrow lanes.

The vehicle will be of great use to rescue people trapped in multi-storied buildings. "Besides, fire incidents, we can also use the vehicle for other emergencies. The AMC can also offer the vehicle to other nearby cities," he said. The officer added that it would be the first such vehicle in the region.