Station attendants undergo fire prevention training
The Central Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has trained 40 fuel station attendants in fire prevention and fighting as part of its campaign to significantly reduce fire outbreaks in the region.
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The attendants, drawn from Cape Coast and its environs, were trained in fire prevention and how to reduce the impact of fires should they occur.
They were taken through the causes of fires and how to fight them as well as practical firefighting skills.
The Acting Regional GNFS Commander, Mr Gilbert Wiafe, said the service was working more on preventing fires than fighting them.
The Central Region recorded three industrial and seven institutional fires in 2015.
No industrial fire or institutional fires were recorded in the region in January 2016, according to statistics made available to the Daily Graphic.
556 fires
In 2015, 556 fires were recorded in the region, including 223 domestic fires, 118 bush fires and 81 electrical fires.
There were two injuries but no death.
Property worth over GH¢76,000 were destroyed in those fires.
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Mr Wiafe said the fuel attendants were high-risk workers and added that he was optimistic that the training would equip them to prevent fires at their places of work.
Fire safety policy
The Regional Safety Officer of the GNFS, Mr Samuel Goligthly, advised all fuel stations to get unambiguous fire safety policies at the stations and adequate firefighting equipment.
He also urged them to adopt effective means of escape in case of fire and ensure that fire detection and warning systems were provided at the stations.
The Public Relations Officer, Mr Hudu Abudu, said the service would collaborate effectively with all stakeholders to considerably reduce the incidence of fires.