The functioning of two-wheeler fire tenders has been plagued by technical troubles since they were introduced in the district more than a year ago. Modified Royal Enfield Bikes were being used as fire-tending vehicles by the Fire and Rescue Services Department to facilitate quick response to fires, especially along narrow lanes inaccessible to fire trucks.
The bike carries water mist and has two cylinders, each weighing about 12 kg, attached on a specially designed carrier at the rear of the bike.
Heavy load
Each cylinder is filled with 9.3 litres of water and 700 mg of foam, besides 40 pounds of compressed air. Firemen using the vehicle said the weight of these fittings along with the weight of the rider and the pillion rider almost always causes loss of balance. This, they said, was only to be expected as the two-wheeler is originally meant to carry only two persons.
The excessive weight at the rear poses twin problems. It causes the front of the motorcycle to rise from the ground every now and then, besides slowing down the vehicle considerably when scaling steep gradients, department sources said. The excessive weight also creates constant problems with the shock absorber, much to the discomfort of the riders.
These shortcomings mean constant trips to the workshop and resultant cost overheads. A highly placed department official in the district said they had brought the drawbacks to the notice of the headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. A response is still awaited, he said.
Despite the shortcomings, Fire and Rescue services personnel vouch for its utility. They are useful for fighting minor fires like a car catching fire. While bigger fire engines could be held up in traffic snarls, the motorcycles can swiftly make their way through to the spot and hold the ground till the fire engines arrive. Water mists attached to the motorcycles can be used for all kinds of fire except those caused by chemical disasters, they said.
Five fire stations in the Ernakulam division – Gandhi Nagar, Tripunithura, Aluva, Muvattupuzha, and Thrikkakara – have been provided with two-wheeler fire tenders.
