Dubai showcases first electric firefighting vehicle in the Middle East

Dubai: Dubai has put on display the Middle East's first electric firefighting vehicle, and the second of such in the world, at a custom cars and bikes exhibition being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the Arab News reported.

The vehicle is equipped with LED lights and has a smart operating system on a 17-inch screen (CAN- BUST), which allows the authorities to control it remotely. It is connected to the Dubai Civil Defence's operation room with TELEMATIC, the technology of sending, receiving and storing information using telecommunication devices to control remote objects.

The electric firefighting vehicle is 20 percent faster than regular firefighting vehicles, according to Major General Rashid Thani Al-Matrooshi, Director-General of the Dubai Civil Defence, in a report by state-owned WAM.

The vehicle's water tank capacity is 4,000 liters and while its foam tank capacity is 400 liters, Al-Matrooshi added, and can utilize a fast charger located at the firefighting and rescue center, which charges the vehicle by 80 percent within 40 minutes, enabling it to operate from 6 to 8 hours at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour.

The vehicle, which has a carrying capacity for six firefighting personnel, can handle all types of fires, the Dubai official added.