Coming Soon for Fire Service – Bowsers to Accompany Fire Trucks

As you just heard, the three fire trucks that government has acquired were purchased from the Calgary Fire Service in Canada, but many times the trucks we receive are donations, which mean that while they are functioning, they may be older versions. So we asked if any consideration is given to fighting fires that involve high-rise buildings, since Belize has a number of those taller structures being built.

Orlando Habet

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management

“Sometimes we get donations and we take what we get. But certainly we have been looking at the fact that we really need those ladders for those high-rise buildings. Most of the trucks now, if they don’t come with it, they are adapted to have the pressure hose so they can spray from on top – I don’t know the technical name for it – but from the top of the truck you can spray instead of just holding it on. And also, one of the problems is the availability of water. If you notice, these trucks are large but they hold two hundred and fifty gallons of water. This long one holds I think a thousand gallons of water. That’s nothing. In one or two minutes that water is gone, so the next step is we are trying to see how we can get the funding to get bowsers to follow the truck. So then you can get the bowser along with the truck, especially in those areas in rural communities where you don’t have the fire hydrants.”