Tangerang needs fire trucks

TANGERANG: The Tangerang Fire Department has said that it lacks the hook and ladder trucks necessary for fighting fires in high-rise buildings.

"We submitted a proposal to Mayor Wahidin Halim but he said the cash-strapped administration could not afford (the trucks). But they purchased trucks for us, but they were types of trucks that we did not urgently need," fire department chief Hendro Ruswiyanto told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

Hendro said there were dozens of buildings and offices in the municipality that were at least eight stories tall.

He said one ladder truck cost between Rp 7 billion (US$823,530) and Rp 15 billion.

Tangerang deputy mayor Deddy Safei said the administration could not afford the trucks even if it paid for them on an installment basis.

"I suggest that the developers of multistory buildings in the town go in together to buy the ladder trucks because it is in their own interest," he said. -- JP