Maldives plans firefighting drones for high-rise building fires

The government is preparing to introduce drones to fight fires in high-rise buildings in the Greater Malé area, Defence Minister Hassan Rasheed said on Sunday night.

Hassan disclosed the plan while responding to a question from a member of the public at the “Ahaa” forum about measures being taken to address the increasing number of serious fire incidents.

He said the narrow streets of Malé make it difficult for fire engines to access some areas, while the growing number of high-rise buildings in areas such as Hulhumalé has created challenges for existing firefighting equipment.

The government has therefore been testing the use of drones to fight fires in high-rise buildings, he said.

“We are planning this and have already conducted experiments. We are looking at using drones to fight fires in high-rise buildings,” Hassan said.

“I believe we will be in a position to begin this work before the end of this year, or that we will start using drones to fight fires in high-rise buildings early next year.”

Hassan said serious fire incidents were occurring at an unusually high rate and identified living conditions and safety practices as some of the factors contributing to the problem.

He said overcrowding, with people living in confined spaces, was among the concerns. He also pointed to inadequate care in electrical wiring and problems with gas regulators as factors that can increase fire risks.

The government is considering measures to ensure that gas regulators sold in the country meet required safety standards, Hassan said.

He said authorities were discussing whether the sale of regulators that do not meet specified standards should be prohibited.

The proposed use of drones is intended to supplement existing firefighting capabilities, particularly in locations where conventional fire engines and equipment face access or height limitations.