Chisinau’s fire train, carrying tons of water, increasingly deployed in emergencies
When wildfires become uncontrollable, firefighters utilize specialized trains to assist in their efforts. These trains, equipped with tens of tons of water, can reach hard-to-reach areas. For example, the Chisinau fire train has a capacity of 120 tons of water, which is equivalent to 30 fire trucks. Additionally, these trains can travel at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour.
A foreman mechanic and two firefighters are part of the crew of such a train. Their shifts last 24 hours, and the wagons are always loaded with water. When the alert is given, the train sets off towards the fire scene, where the other firefighters who are extinguishing the fire need additional water reserves.
“We start the motor pump, then all the hoses are connected and we give the water to the fire. We give the water from our tanks to the emergency vehicles,” said driver Constantin Rață.
The fire train is deployed in the area of Calea Basarabiei Str, where the intervention base is located.
"Last summer there were two large fires on Muncești Str. 801 and the second one also on Muncești Str. - at a furniture factory. 100 tons of water were spent on the last fire on Muncești Str. 801. Especially during the summer, we very often use it to extinguish vegetation. If we calculate, all the fire trucks we have this summer - we intervened in 30-40 vegetation fires", said the senior inspector, fire prevention, Vasile Surchiceanu.
"It is a great help in supplying us with water, it has a large capacity, which allows us to intervene and have water, which is a main material for us", said Andrei Lazarev, firefighter.
The Moldovan Railway has six fire trucks, strategically located in Ocnița, Ungheni, Bălți, Chișinău, Tighina and Basarabeasca. Each train has a well-defined intervention sector, to ensure rapid response in case of fires on the railway routes.
The train in the capital was manufactured in 1983 and clearly needs renovation. According to CFM employees, there is already a clear plan for it to undergo major repairs by 2026.
