DAVAO City will now be more equipped when responding to fire incidents following the acquisition of two Austrian fire trucks.
The City Government, through the Davao City Emergency Central 911, announced on its official Facebook page the acquisition of the two Rosenbauer aerial fire or ladder trucks from Austria.
Central 911 head Emmanuel Jaldon said the purchasing of the ladder trucks was decided after the huge fire that hit NCCC Mall along MacArthur Highway in 2017.
“That (NCCC fire incident) is one of the reasons. There are also other infrastructure developments in the city, our buildings are getting higher so we need to be equipped for eventualities,” Jaldon said.
The fire incident had claimed the lives of 38 call center agents and mall employees.
According to the post caption, the truck's ladder can extend up to 39 meters and will be used to rescue people trapped inside buildings such as during a fire incident.
Jaldon said the ladder trucks are equipped to reach up to the 16th floor of a building.
Jaldon said it is the latest addition to Central 911's rescue and firefighting capabilities.
He added that each ladder truck can also carry up to four people in case of aerial rescue operations.
Jaldon underscored the need to upgrade the equipment of Central 911 due to the fast development of the city.
“Another ladder truck is coming, the same model and brand. The idea is we have three ladder trucks to cover the three sides of the building,” he said.
Austrian Embassy Commercial Counsellor Christina Stieber, who was present during the turnover, said that Rosenbauer is a well-known company in Austria and trusted in the fire truck and ladder industry.
“This is the first time that Davao City purchased equipment from Rosenbauer. This is equipped for the road networks of Davao City and can be very useful in case of rescue operations,” Stieber said.
Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head Angel Sumagaysay said the purchasing of the fire trucks was necessary with the sprouting of high rise buildings in the city.
Sumagaysay added even the Bureau of Fire Protection - Davao Region (BFP-Davao) do not have a similar truck.
"Good to note that the city initiates to acquire these equipment so that magamit ng 911 fire auxiliary personnel natin (our 911 fire auxiliary personnel will be able to use it)," the official said in a text message to SunStar Davao.
He, however, cannot give the cost of the truck.
However, he said the city would continue to procure and upgrade its equipment with the series of natural disasters within and outside the city.
Sumagaysay, in a previous report, said both PSSCC and Central 911 had been aiming to be separated from the City Mayor's Office.
He said having both offices as a separate department would help increase its budget, which would be utilized for the upgrading of its facilities and equipment. (With reports from CIO)