XN000022-1977-06-02 — Page 7

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1977,

VERSATILE FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT FOR F.S.D.

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A HIGHLY VERSATILE PIECE OF FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE OPERATIONAL FLEET OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING FIRE FIGHTING AND RESCUE OPERATIONS.

THE NEW EQUIPMENT, A 50-METRE (164-FOOT) TURNTABLE LADDER, IS THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT OF AN ORDER FOR THREE SUCH EQUIPMENT PLACED BY THE DEPARTMENT WITH A WEST GERMAN COMPANY IN 1975.

A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE SECOND APPLIANCE IS DUE TO ARRIVE IN ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME AND THE THIRD TWO WEEKS THEREAFTER.

THE TURNTABLE LADDER, TOGETHER WITH VEHICLE CHASSIS AND ENGINES, COSTS ABOUT $1.3 MILLION. IT HAS A SEATING CAPACITY FOR THREE PERSONS.

THE LADDER CONSISTS OF SIX SECTIONS AND IS HYDRAULICALLY AND ELECTRONICALLY OPERATED. THE INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS ARE GUIDED WITHIN THEMSELVES BY MEANS OF ROLLERS SO AS TO REDUCE FRICTION AND TO ENSURE THAT THEY RUN SMOOTHLY UNDER ALL CONDITIONS.

THE MAXIMUM EXTENSION IS 50 METRES AND THE MAXIMUM ELEVATION IS 72 DEGREES. IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO ROTATE THE LADDER THROUGH 360 DEGREES.

THE NEW APPLIANCE HAS A NUMBER OF FEATURES, INCLUDING

AN ELEVATOR CAPABLE OF CARRYING TWO FIREMEN OR 180 KG (APPROXIMATELY 400 POUNDS) AT ABOUT ONE METRE PER SECOND. IT IS RAISED AND LOWERED BY WAY OF A STEEL CABLE. IF THIS CABLE SHOULD TEAR OR THE MECHANISM FAIL, SPRING PRESSURE WILL OPERATE THE +ECCENTRIC STOPPING+ CAMS, WHICH LOCK IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE ELEVATOR WILL COME TO A STANDSTILL.

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE OPERATOR ON THE GROUND AND THE FIREMEN AT THE HEAD OF THE LADDER IS FACILITATED BY THE INTER- COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. THROUGH THIS SYSTEM, THE MEN AT THE TOP CAN REPORT THE IR OBSERVATIONS DOWN TO THE CONTROL POSITION CONSTANTLY.

THE APPLIANCE IS ALSO FITTED WITH A REMOTE CONTROL UNIT WHICH ENABLES THE OPERATOR TO EFFECT LADDER MOVEMENTS FROM A DIFFERENT LOCATION,

ANOTHER USEFUL FEATURE OF THE LADDER IS ITS HYDRAULICALLY- POWERED LIFTING DEVICE WHICH HAS A MAXIMUM LIFTING CAPACITY OF 3,000 KG (APPROXIMATELY 6,600 POUNDS). IT CAN BE USED FOR LIFTING SMALL LOADS IN CASE OF ACCIDENTS OR OTHER CONTINGENCIES.

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AT PRESENT, THE LONGEST LADDER IN SERVICE IS 30 METRES (100 FEET) AND CAN REACH UP TO THE NINTH FLOOR OF A BUILDING.

+WITH THIS NEW EQUIPMENT WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXTEND OUR LADDER OPERATIONS UP TO THE 15TH FLOORS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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