Movenpick trains security as fire wardens

Award winning hospitality outfit, Movenpick Hotel, in collaboration with Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on Tuesday conducted a fire drill to train security personnel at the institution to become fire wardens.

It was aimed at checking the effectiveness of the hotel’s security system, as well as equipping the team with the necessary skills needed in fire fighting during a fire outbreak to bring the situation under control before the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) team gets to the scene.

A fire was set ablaze by the fire team to evacuate both the staff and residents from the building during the exercise.

A crisis team together with Evacuation members successfully evacuated all to the fire assembly point and A headcount was done.

Second-in-command of Ministries Fire Station, DO3 Daniel Parry noted that the action taken by the hospitality firm is in compliance with GNFS L.I.

He said: “This exercise is supposed to be done twice every year and has been part of L.I which indicates that every institution must have fire wardens trained, test their equipment and personnel readiness if there is any action.”

DO3 Parry pointed out that GNFS is always ready to train hospitality institutions to be equipped with the skills needed to quench or control fire during an emergency before it spreads.

During the exercise, the he noted that there were vehicular movements which were not ideal during real emergencies, adding that, some participants reacted slowly to the emergency alarm instead of walking aggressively to the assembly point through the two emergency exits.

Meanwhile, he called on the institution to enlarge their assembly point to contain all who lodge in their 260 hotel rooms.

Responding to the recommendations made by the Fire Service officials, the General Manager of Movenpick Hotel, Mr Michael Rathgeb stated that, the exercise would be evaluated with fire warden team and adjustments would be made where necessary to ensure the safety of residents in the hotel.

Mr Rathgeb mentioned that his outfit had re-written and updated the drill procedure thus wanted to see if it was practicable.