TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday flagged off six motorcycles for firefighting mounted with water-mist systems ~ a new addition to existing fleet of fire fighting vehicles.
The Royal Enfield Bullets equipped with fire fighting assembly are ideal to fight fires in urban residential areas linked by labyrinthine and congested roads and by-lanes, especially along the coastal places.
After the flagging off, the motorcycles were deployed at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) venues and Old Goa for the ensuing St Francis Xavier Feast on December 3.
Director of Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services Ashok Menon said that each bike is equipped with compact water mist generating system for speedy fire control. Its lacing distance is up to 12 to 16 metres.
“The fire extinguishing liquid container has a filling capacity of 10 litres of water and foam. The mist generators can also be detached from the bikes and carried as backpacks,” he said as a demonstration was also carried out for the Chief Minister and other attendees outside the ministerial block at Porvorim.
“The bike that can carry two firemen can reach the spot at the earliest and start the rescue operations. In majority cases where roads leading to certain spots are very narrow, these bikes will be of great use…” he added.
A special fire redundant uniform has been designed for the firemen who will man the machines in case of a fire.
The department is now contemplating to propose to the State government for 30 more Motorcycle First Response to deploy at their 15 fire stations across the State.
