Past glory
If you thought antiques just adorn museums then think again. The Byculla fire station has on display its historic fire engine that talks about the glorious past of the Mumbai fire brigade, ……..Preeti Gupta reports 
In this fast-paced gizmo era when everything is going digital, the Byculla fire station is heading the historical way. Amidst the latest Turn Table Ladders (TTL fire engines) stands a unique and antique TTL attracting attention from the passersby.
This historic TTL is currently deployed at the fire station for the sole purpose of display. A V Sawant, chief fire officer, says, The vehicle speaks about the sacrifice made by the firemen during the fire fighting operation of the Bombay Docks explosion that occurred on April 14, 1944, when SS Fort Stikine, carrying ammunitions and explosive items, caught fire.
During this operation, 66 firemen sacrificed their lives; many were disabled for life and a large number of fire appliances and equipments were destroyed. To commemorate the dauntless spirit of the firemen who lost their lives, the Indian government declared April 14 as the Fire Service Day and later it was termed as the Fire Service Week.
Sawant says, This TTL was the only one that survived the explosion. Hence, we have stationed it as a remembrance of the valiant service by the fire services. This German-made TTL stands 37-metres high and had to be manually-operated by at least two people. Even though this antique TTL is not functional today, yet we regularly paint and polish the engine and put it on display only during the Fire Service Week, adds Sawant.
This antique piece is likely to be placed in the Fire Brigade Exhibition Centre whose plans are yet in the pipeline. On one hand this antique TTL reveals the glorious past of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, on the other, it is equipping itself with the latest fire appliances and equipments to better their services.
Sawant elaborates, Recently, we got the new Arial Ladder Platforms (ALP) that will be used for rescue operations. Besides that, as a part of the pre-monsoon preparation, we have introduced a new team called the Rope Rescue Team.In the middle of the fancy modern equipments, such vintage items certainly add a touch of old world charm.
This historic TTL is currently deployed at the fire station for the sole purpose of display. A V Sawant, chief fire officer, says, The vehicle speaks about the sacrifice made by the firemen during the fire fighting operation of the Bombay Docks explosion that occurred on April 14, 1944, when SS Fort Stikine, carrying ammunitions and explosive items, caught fire.
During this operation, 66 firemen sacrificed their lives; many were disabled for life and a large number of fire appliances and equipments were destroyed. To commemorate the dauntless spirit of the firemen who lost their lives, the Indian government declared April 14 as the Fire Service Day and later it was termed as the Fire Service Week.
Sawant says, This TTL was the only one that survived the explosion. Hence, we have stationed it as a remembrance of the valiant service by the fire services. This German-made TTL stands 37-metres high and had to be manually-operated by at least two people. Even though this antique TTL is not functional today, yet we regularly paint and polish the engine and put it on display only during the Fire Service Week, adds Sawant.
This antique piece is likely to be placed in the Fire Brigade Exhibition Centre whose plans are yet in the pipeline. On one hand this antique TTL reveals the glorious past of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, on the other, it is equipping itself with the latest fire appliances and equipments to better their services.
Sawant elaborates, Recently, we got the new Arial Ladder Platforms (ALP) that will be used for rescue operations. Besides that, as a part of the pre-monsoon preparation, we have introduced a new team called the Rope Rescue Team.In the middle of the fancy modern equipments, such vintage items certainly add a touch of old world charm.