12 november 2010

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits the Civil Defence Academy at the Emergencies Ministry to examine firefighting equipment

Participants:

Upon arriving at the Civil Defence Academy, the prime minister went to look over the firefighting equipment located on the academy’s training grounds, accompanied by Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu. He was shown robotic devices used by the Centre for High-Risk Rescue Operations. Sergei Shoigu told Vladimir Putin about the various types of mobile robotic devices used for fighting fires in forests, residences and tunnels, where it is impossible to use manpower.

Then the prime minister was shown the mobile control unit and communications system used in fighting large fires. According to the minister, these units take one to two hours to start working and coordinate major firefighting operations.

After that Vladimir Putin examined different types of fire vehicles and ladders.

The prime minister was updated on the latest developments, including unmanned aircraft with vertical take-off. These aircraft are used to observe emergency areas from the air; the operator of this unmanned aircraft gets a bird’s eye view of what is happening on the ground.

He also examined a Ka-32 firefighting and rescue helicopter, which is used to fight fires on the upper floors of buildings and is able to extinguish fires both from above and from the sides. According to the minister, the helicopter has proved its worth when fighting the fire in the Grabar Art Centre in Moscow. On display was also a Mi-8 helicopter, which accommodated both a mobile hospital and a command unit.

In addition, the prime minister was shown different rescue equipment and uniforms and tools that are already being produced in Russia.

During his visit to the academy, Vladimir Putin also attended an alpine training class.