Davao needs ladder trucks for high-rises- BFP

DAVAO CITY- Davao Region needs fire ladder trucks that could reach high-rise buildings this according to the Bureau of Fire Protection

Fire Inspector Nestor Jimenez of the Intelligence and Investigation  Branch BFP-XI  bared that the region has more than 40 high-rise buildings more than 20 of these buildings are located in Davao City.

Jimenez said their definition of a high-rise is a structure about 15 meters and above in height or a building of about 5 stories and up.

He said currently the region has at least two fire ladder trucks. However these truck ladders can only reach five floors.

“They were purchased in 1981, when the tallest building in the City was Maguindanao Hotel.” Jimenez said.

The now closed Maguindanao Hotel is a seven-storey structure and for many years was the tallest building in Davao City. However high-rise hotels, condominiums and office buildings has been built in the city with more high-rises under construction.

Jimenez said only the BFP has the ladder trucks, even Davao City’s Fire Auxiliary Service of the Central 911 and the volunteer fire brigades has no ladder capability enough to reach tall buildings.

He said that ladder trucks are very expensive fire-fighting equipment as they cost about P20- P40 million.

But according to him the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is asking for a data on the region’s high rise buildings as to determine the need for more capable ladder trucks.

There is a P3.4 billion-modernization fund allocated by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the Bureau of Fire Protection to purchase modern fire trucks. With this fund the BFP has received brand-new Austrian-made Rosenbauer Fire Trucks, which are deployed to various local government units in need of firefighting equipment. (PIA/RG Alama)