Buildings reach for the sky but fire ladders to 10th floor

Buildings in Panama are getting higher as they reach for the skies, but the ladders of the Fire Department  will reach only the 10th floor.

The Fire Department of Panama (CBP) and the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects (SPIA)  held a seminar earlier in the week to  discussed how safe are the buildings in Panama when a fire occurs.

Carlos Rodriguez, head of the CBP Security Office, said the city has been sprouting tall  buildings, but they are finding problems with the maintenance of alarm systems ,He acknowledged that the fire service is limited in regard to height with their ladders only 85 feet high and only allow them to reach the 10th floor. "Therefore we ask that these buildings have their warning systems in order," he said

Rovi July, president of the SPIA, said a careful watch watch has to be maintained to ensure safety standards  are met when towers are being constructed.