The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has revealed that 95 percent of the fire outbreaks recorded in the country are due to human errors.
Public Relations Officer Divisional Officer II (DOII) Desmond Ackah stated that the data shows that outbreaks have shown a slight increase in outbreaks by 0.03 percent.
He also indicated that some Ghanaians see themselves as immune to fire disasters, hence they don’t take safety protocols seriously.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said the GNFS remains committed to introducing initiatives aimed at building a strong culture of fire safety, equipping the public with essential knowledge and practical skills to prevent and manage fire incidents effectively.
This they have done through public fire awareness initiatives, including community outreach, school programs, and media campaigns that focus on fire prevention, safe handling of electrical and gas appliances, and emergency response.
“While the GNFS continues to raise awareness and educate Ghanaians on fire safety, we also encourage them to adopt safety measures both at home and at work. Just recently, someone left a pot of soup on fire at Achimota, locked the door, and went to church which led to an outbreak destroying several properties. We should also have basic fire fighting materials to contain fires before they escalate. We do not have Fire Stations in every area in Ghana, and so we encourage Ghanaians to have fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and other basic fire fighting safety tools to contain fires. The GNFS personnel remain committed to providing service to ensure safety, but Ghanaians must also be conscious of their safety.”
DOII Desmond Ackah said, “The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is consistently urging all Ghanaians to strictly adopt and adhere to crucial fire safety measures, including proper electrical practices, safe handling of flames, installing safety equipment, and emergency preparedness, to proactively prevent the frequent loss of lives and property from fire incidents across the nation.”
He further disclosed that over 50 percent of fire outbreaks are extinguished, meaning Ghanaians are able to contain the fires before personnel from the GNFS get to the scenes of the outbreak.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
