By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, Sept. 10, GNA – Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs), and chiefs have been urged to provide support to firefighting volunteers in local communities, by supplying them with the necessary tools and equipment to improve their effectiveness.
The volunteers are trained to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources against fire outbreaks, particularly the forest reserve and wildlife in local areas, as these resources provide vital ecosystem services to communities and make a significant contribution to the national economy.
The Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFOI) of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Ms Jennifer N.Y. Quaye, the Eastern Regional Commander, made the call at the inaugural ceremony of the Executive Committee of Atiwa West Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) and Fire Volunteer Squad in Kwabeng.
She emphasised the need for recognition and provision of appropriate equipment for the adequate performance of their work, citing essential tools such as Wellington boots, machetes, safety gear, reflectors, goggles, gloves, and other firefighting materials.
She noted that the GNFS, per its core mandate of protecting life and properties from fires caused by fire, played a crucial role in protecting Ghana’s natural resources, particularly in forests and wildlife reserves, where they help prevent fires and other hazards.
She explained that fire volunteers performed fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction, just like career firefighters, and received proper training.
Ms Quaye said that the fire volunteer concept, as enshrined in the anti-bushfire Law 229 of 1990, had proven to be the most efficient and effective way of combating fire disasters in forest reserves and wildlife areas.
She stressed that the concept had been instrumental in preventing devastating fires that could destroy vegetation.
The inaugural ceremony witnessed the passing out parade of a trained volunteer squad from eight communities adjacent to the Atiwa Forest Reserve.
The volunteers underwent various stages of firefighting techniques, including detecting fires in their incipient stage, creating firebreaks, identifying natural and artificial causes of fires, controlling bushfires, understanding how fires spread, and using tools and equipment needed to combat bushfires.
The Regional Commander assured the volunteers of the full backing of GNFS and urged them to report any suspicious acts that could lead to the destruction of vegetation.
GNA