GNFS to conduct random emergency checks

Accra, March 31, GNA - The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) would soon launch an exercise that involves surprise visits to organisations to conduct checks on existing emergency aids.

The emergency aids include emergency exits, fire hydrants and protective gadgets.

Dr Albert Brown Gaisie, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) of GNFS, said the exercise is aimed at finding out the number of organizations - both government and private- that are ready to face emergency situations.

Dr Gaisie said this at a stakeholders' meeting in Accra to discuss accessibility of water source for fire tenders, and serviceability of fire hydrants, strategy towards a national stakeholders emergency preparedness plan and electrical fires.

He said: 'We can visit the Parliament house, media organizations, shopping malls, Ministries, hospitable institutions, hospitals, private institutions, financial institutions, national theatre, bus terminals, and any organization in which there is a sizable or growing number of people.

'We do not just need to find existing emergency aids in such organizations, but ones that are very effective.'

According to the CFO, the GNFS recorded a total of 1,539 fire outbreaks as at March 25 this year, with Greater-Accra Region leading with 552 cases, followed by Ashanti Region with 397, and Central Region recording 159 cases.

He explained that among the numerous fire outbreaks recorded, 587 were domestic, 165 electrical, 136 vehicular, 148 were commercial,52 were institutional, 302 were bush fires, nine industrial, while 140 were caused by others.

The CFO appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), to urgently cut illegal electrical connections at the markets across the country.

He urged the AMA and the Town and Country Planning, to prevent unnecessary road and hydrants blocks, as well as building designs with the potential to impede fire fighting during outbreaks.

'Designs of markets should be submitted to the service to check how convenient it would be for us to maneuver to fight fire in case of an outbreak before it is constructed.

'It is our hope that the service attains fire monitoring towers to detect fire outbreak early and easily at the initial stage', he said.

Representatives from the National Disaster Management Organization, AMA, Ghana Police Service, Town and Country Planning, ECG, Ghana Water Company, Ghana News Agency, Forestry Commission, National Ambulance Service, and Tanker Drivers Association, who took part in the meeting, assured the GNFS of their co-operation, to support it to discharge its duties effectively and efficiently during fire disasters.

GNA