Tshwane metro unveils three R78m firefighting trucks
"They are first of their kind in the southern hemisphere."
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams unveiled three aerial fire fighting ladder trucks for the metro’s emergency services outside Tshwane House on Wednesday evening.
Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Charles Mabaso said the trucks were purchased for about R78-million and are the first ones of their kind in the southern hemisphere.
“They are manufactured in America. Two of them are what we call ‘Metro Queens’ and can extend up to 31 meters in height. The other one has an aerial ladder that can extend up to 43 meters which is about 20 to 30 stories.
“They will be deployed in the city to enhance our fire fighting work.”
Mabaso said the three trucks have aerial ladders that can be used for various purposes in particular to enter high-rise buildings.
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“They can also be used for various rescue situations. They can also be used for what we call elevated streams, which means you pour water from an elevated position to fight a fire, particularly in industrial settings where you need a lot of water.”
Mabaso said these trucks brought a sense of pride to firefighters and will help a lot in protecting residents’ properties.
“They know they have the right tools for the job. Now when we go out emergencies in high-rise buildings, we know that our communities can expect us to respond and come to their aid with the right tools and the right skills.
“We have trained our people to operate this equipment so that they can use them effectively and efficiently.”
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Williams said the vehicles were “truly impressive” and will support the department in their mission to protect the lives of residents, their properties and infrastructure across the city.
“These trucks are the first of their kind to be deployed in an African city. They will significantly enhance the emergency services department’s capabilities.
“These vehicles are exclusively designed for fire and rescue services. They are engineered to last long.”
The vehicles are equipped with 6 226 litre pumps; 1 100 litre water tanks; and 113 litre foam tanks.
They have fully equipped firefighting and rescue equipment compartments.
Additionally, the ladders have point cameras that give a clear view from the ground of what is happening inside a building.
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