In Dubai, jet-packed firefighters will tackle skyscraper fires

The Dubai Civil Defense is creating a fleet of emergency jetpacks, which will help firefighters tackle flames in the city's skyscrapers.

Dubai is home to some of the world’s tallest buildings, including the 828 meter high Burj Khalifa skyscraper and the residential Torch building, where a fire broke out on the 50th floor earlier this year. Faced with such great heights, the Dubai Civil Defense

is creating a fleet of emergency-service jetpacks, which will help firefighters tackle future flames in the city’s skyscrapers.

The jetpacks were designed by the Martin Aircraft Company and can be manned by firefighters after only a small amount of training, providing a more secure solution to physically climbing up ladders. They can also be used to enable the emergency services to communicate with people trapped on high floors, carry equipment and assess heat levels using thermal imaging cameras. When in use, the machine hovers if the flyer lets go, enabling firefighters to use their hands while onboard.

Could the jet-packs be used by other emergency services too?