Martin Muleya
City of Mutare has taken a significant step in enhancing its emergency response capabilities with the recent acquisition of a state-of-the-art fire ladder.
The fire ladder, sourced from Belarus, boasts an impressive 32-meter reach, making it an invaluable asset for the city’s fire department.
In a telephone interview with The Midweek Watch today (Thursday), City of Mutare Town Clerk, Blessing Chafesuka highlighted that the new fire ladder was a game-changer for the city.
“This is not the first time for the local authority to own a fire ladder. We had one that was holed at our workshop after it was decommissioned because it had passed its useful life and had to dispose it.
“This fire ladder we have purchased is not only for helping to douse fire on tall buildings but you will realize that it will also be used to repair bulbs from our tower lights dotted around the city,” said Chafesuka.
“In the past we were hiring cranes from private companies to replace faulty bulbs from our tower lights. The fire ladder thus will be used in the electrical and fire departments. For this brand we are the first local authority to purchase it using our own funds. This will not only improve our emergency responses but also enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of our city.
“We were relying on ladders from other municipalities and sometimes we would receive them as a donations. Even the one which was decommissioned was bought by government. We are happy to have our own fire ladder and hope to continue improving service delivery for our residents.
“On issues of civil protection, we are learning a lot from Belarus and there are a lot of gaps we must close as a city because when disaster strikes that is when you see how vulnerable you are as a local authority. We need to teach our people the importance of preparedness especially now when we are experiencing a lot of cyclones, we need to up our game in areas of civil protection,” explained Chafesuka.
The city’s chief accounting officer hinted that he was not sure if City of Mutare was the first local authority around the country to buy a fire ladder of that magnitude using their own funds as he said those in the country at the moment were either bought by government or donated.
The acquisition of the fire ladder is a testament to the local authority’s commitment to providing top-notch services to its residents. The city’s fire department is expected to undergo training to ensure they are proficient in operating the new equipment.
With the new fire ladder in place, residents of Mutare can rest assured that their city is better equipped to handle emergencies and maintain the city’s infrastructure.
