XN000022-1979-03-15 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, MARCH‍ 15, 1979

MORE FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT DUE

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TWO. 37-METRE TURNTABLE LADDERS ORDERED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT A COST OF MORE THAN $2 MILLION WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG SOON.

THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER, MR. D. A. KINGSTON, WILL LEAVE FOR WEST GERMANY ON MARCH 23 TO INSPECT AND TEST THE LADDERS BEFORE THEY ARE SHIPPED HERE IN MAY OR JUNE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

MR. KINGSTON WILL ALSO DISCUSS WITH THE SUPPLIER MAGIRUS- DEUTZ A.G. — TECHNICAL AND SAFETY POINTS RELATED TO HONG KONG CONDITIONS. THE ADDITIONAL APPLIANCES WILL FURTHER ADD TO THE EFFICIENCY OF FIREMEN FIGHTING FIRE IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE SAID A THIRD 37-METRE TURNTABLE LADDER HAD BEEN ORDERED AND WAS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER. +FOUR 37-METRE TURNTABLE LADDERS HAVE SO FAR BEEN BROUGHT INTO SERVICE AS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT'S PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE FIRE-FIGHTING AND RESCUE CAPABILITIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+EIGHTEEN FIREMEN WILL UNDERGO AN EXTENSIVE SIX-MONTH TRAINING COURSE ON HOW TO OPERATE THE APPLIANCES EFFICIENTLY AND SAFELY,+ HE ADDED.

THE THREE NEW LADDERS ARE SPECIALLY FITTED WITH WIND-GAUGES TO COUNTER THE DANGER POSED BY FREQUENT WIND GUSTS IN SOME PARTS OF HONG KONG.

EACH LADDER, MOUNTED ON A VEHICULAR CHASSIS AND POWERED BY AN AIR-COOLED DIESEL ENGINE IS EQUIPPED WITH A REMOTE CONTROL CAGE FOR SMOOTH OPERATION AT VARIABLE HE IGHTS.

+THIS TYPE OF LADDER IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL BECAUSE OF THE PROLIFERATION OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.

FOLLOWING HIS WEST GERMAN VISIT, MR. KINGSTON WILL GO TO THE UNITED KINGDOM WHERE HE WILL DISCUSS THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF TWO 50-FOOT SNORKEL FIRE APPLIANCES BEING BUILT FOR THE DEPARTMENT BY SIMON ENGINEERING IN DUDLEY, WEST MIDLANDS.

THE TWO SNORKELS, COSTING $1.5 MILLION, ARE DUE FOR COMPLETION IN OCTOBER ́ AND WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

MR. KINGSTON'S LAST MISSION WILL BE TO INSPECT A $400,000 MAJOR PUMP APPLIANCE ORDERED FROM THE HESTAIR DENNIS COMPANY IN GUILDFORD, THE PUMP IS DUE TO ARRIVE HERE IN MAY.

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