By Naa Shormei Odonkor
Kumasi, Feb. 17, GNA – The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Ashanti Region has entreated citizens to support the fight against fire outbreaks by following fire safety precautions.
According to the Service, majority of fire outbreaks in the region could be prevented through proper safety measures and awareness.
Divisional Fire Officer (II), Mr Peter Addai, the Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional GNFS, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that, the GNFS only had 26 fire tenders serving all the 43 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the region.
Some of them are old and out of operation because of frequent breakdowns.
“Due to the limited number of fire tenders in the region, a tender serves about three to four districts,” DO (II) said.
To protect citizens from losing their lives in fire outbreaks, he urged citizens to contact the GNFS with their building plans for inspection and assistance to ensure that the building was safe.
The GNFS, according to him, is mandated by L. I.1724, Precaution (Premises) Regulation and its amendment in L. I 2249 to ensure that fire safety measures are incorporated into buildings.
Again, he advised citizens to be cautious of the type of security doors they installed on their buildings as most of the doors failed to open in case of fire outbreak.
“Take a second look at the type of doors you install in your house.
You should be convinced that the door will not be an obstruction in time of emergency,” he said.
DO (II) Addai encouraged citizens to have fire extinguishers at home, practice good housekeeping by arranging items well and removing all cobwebs since they were combustible.
“If possible, you and your family should practice regular drills so that you can easily escape during emergencies,” he noted.
He urged citizens not to go to the kitchen when they were tired or avoid multitasking while cooking to prevent fire outbreaks.
GNA