Fire fighters unable to reach top of high rise buildings

And can’t get under low bridges

CHIANG MAI: -- Chiang Mai Municipality is concerned that it does not have fire tenders to deal with fires above the 10th floor of the mushrooming high-rise buildings in the city.

Poonsawas Worawal, deputy mayor of the Engineering Division of Chiang Mai Municipality, said that even though the municipality’s fire-fighting division had received a national award for efficiency, the increase in high-rise buildings and the lack of modern equipment is a cause of great concern.

Municipality officials are also looking for a suitable site to locate the operation centre to cover all 40 square kilometres of the municipal area. They hope to expand into the Pa Tun and Mae Yuak areas.

“However, this faces an obstacle in that the new fire engines will not be able to pass under the low bridges located in these areas,” he said. Water trucks currently have to use indirect routes, which causes fire fighters to lose time in getting to the scene of the fire, he said.

--Chiangmai-mail.com 2004-09-11

Well, I'm glad I live on the sixth floor. Shan't move higher than tenth.