Ready to fight fire, but nowhere to go

The new fire truck will have to wait till the elections are over before it can be used

It appears that it will be a while before the latest acquisition by the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES)u00a0-- a state-of-the-art firefighting trucku00a0-- can be utilized for the purpose. The reason: the election code of conduct which prohibits ministers from participating in any public event.


Made to order: The truck was commissioned after the fire at Carlton
Towers on February 23, which saw nine people lose their lives and 65
people injured. Pic/Ramesh HS

The truck, which is equipped with a snorkel lift to fight fires in high-rises, cannot be unveiled until after the elections scheduled on December 26 and 31. However, the officials said that it could be pressed into service if need be.

The truck was commissioned after the fire at Carlton Towers on February 23, which saw nine people lose their lives and 65 people injured. One of the major issues that emerged from the blaze was the lack of appropriate fire-fighting equipmentu00a0-- particularly the fact that their ladders only reached the third floor of the building.
One such person who was stuck in the building had said via Twitter, "Our rescue ladder. It'll only reach the fourth floor. We're on the fifth."

B G Chengappa, director, KSFES, said, "The unveiling was meant to take place on the December 8 or 9, but now I cannot say when it will happen," he said. "The election commission will not allow such an event to take place in the lead up to an election."

The truck will most probably have to remain veiled until such a date can be found, although some believe it is merely posturing by MLAs, so that they can show off in the future.

Beyond Carlton, a group set up by members of the victims' family, said that prevention is key in tackling the issue of fires and this is why the full unveiling of this truck remains important. "We must be aware and alert. Fires happen without warning announced," said one of the relatives.

Super machine
' Height: 54 metres
' Cost: Rs 3.5 crore
' Can reach: 12 stories
' Three such vehicles ordered
Theu00a0 department already has two 32 metre truck-mounted ladders with them