City's fire dept to get 104m ladder in its fleet

Mumbai: As Mumbai's skyline continues its upward climb, the city's fire brigade department is preparing to do the same. Mumbai Fire Brigade has initiated the process of procuring a 104-metre turntable ladder, which would become the tallest firefighting ladder in its fleet.The proposal comes nearly a decade after the civic body inducted its current tallest ladder - a 90-metre aerial platform - in 2015. Officials said the proposed ladder is aimed at strengthening the brigade's ability to tackle fires and carry out rescue operations in the growing number of high-rises across the city and. "The proposal has been under discussion for over two years and is currently in the technical and administrative stage," said a senior civic official.

At present, the brigade's 90-metre ladder is stationed at its Byculla headquarters and remains the primary resource for tackling fires in very tall buildings. "If a major fire breaks out in a high-rise, the time taken for a 90-metre ladder to travel from Byculla could be critical," an officer said. The proposed ladder is expected to feature a retractable aerial platform and advanced hydraulic systems.