Unmanned Firefighting Machine

The UFM being demonstrated in front of Pasig City hall

Pasig City has the distinction of acquiring and operating the first Unmanned Firefighting Machine (UFM) in the country.

The UFM was officially operationalized last April 24, 2017 by no less than Pasig City Mayor Robert Eusebio. The Php19.0 million UFM was acquired by the city to boost its capability in firefighting.

The UFM is suited for dealing with industrial, factory, warehouse and building fires. It is also able to penetrate residential areas where the passages are too narrow for conventional fire engines.

This will address the gap in the capabilities in managing ad fighting fires in Pasig City and also of other Local Government Units that need such assistance. Firefighters are also subject to extremes of temperature when fighting large and enclosed fires. 

The UFM is a tracked machine that can be remotely piloted to enter the sites of fires in confined areas. It has a capacity of pumping 2,500 liters of water a minute. It is connected to a tanker truck. 

The UFM can also blow air so as to clear smoke and other toxic fumes to enable firefighters and rescuers to enter confined buildings and structures during operations.

“Tamang-tama na merong unmanned vehicle katulad ng ganito para kahit papaano sa mga maliliit na eskinita, madali namin maipapasok, maisusupo ang sunog,” Mayor Eusebio stated. (It’s the right time for us to have an unmanned vehicle like this so that it’s easy to enter narrow streets and quench fires.

According to Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PCDRRMO) Chief Ritchie Van Angeles, this will allow firefighters and rescuers to operate in an environment where the danger to them is minimized if not thoroughly mitigated. 

“Isang malaking bagay kung may ganitong equipment para rin makatulong ng mas mabilis, at tas ligtas din sa firefighter habang nagpi-penetrate sa mga sunog,” PCDRRMO Chief Angeles said. (It’s a big thing if you have this kind of equipment to help in a faster and safer way for the firefighter when penetrating through fires.)

The UFM was acquired last October 2016 from German company LUF. The first operation the UFM was deplayed was during the fire in Trinoma Mall last March 14, 2017.

This is part of Pasig City’s capacity building programs in line with Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM).