install firefighting equipment operators of public facilities urged

Operators of public facilities have been asked to put in place robust fire-fighting mechanisms at their facilities.

the Municipal Fire Commander of the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Fire Station, Mr Theophilus Dangbe, making the call, said the management of such facilities ought to acquire modern fire equipment and train their internal security personnel and staff in how to use the equipment.

He said this when personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the municipality embarked on an education campaign at the Junction Mall in Accra to sensitise the operators of the facility to fire prevention.

“Fire is destroying lives and properties almost every day. It has become important for all establishments to resort to preventive measures. We want all industries, homes and public facilities to be proactive to control fire outbreaks,” he said.

Fire training

At the event, a 75-member team, with its membership drawn from the various departments of the Junction Mall, were trained in how to use the fire extinguisher. They were also sensitised to early warning signals of possible fire outbreaks and fire safety measures.

Mr Dangbe said domestic and industrial fires were the most endemic in the country for which reason the GNFS had embarked on robust community education to reverse the trend.

“We are now forming community fire prevention groups to educate people at the community level. We go to individual houses to encourage them to get fire extinguishers,” he said.

The Assistant Station Officer (ASO), Safety Department, Michael Akwei, who took participants through fire safety measures, urged the public to be cautious about the use of electrical gadgets.

He said the lack of knowledge about the proper use of gas cookers accounted for a greater number of domestic fires and urged the public to maintain a high safety culture at home.

Safety measures at the mall

The Centre Manager at the Junction Mall, Mr Ebenezer Asare Amanquar, said the management of the facility had put a safety policy in place to train the security personnel and staff in fire safety.

“We have a fire safety mechanism in place with equipment to prevent fire outbreaks. Security has become a major concern of late. We are putting all measures in place to guarantee the safety of all users of the facility,” he said.