<<Print>>

Available statistics by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) indicates that about 2,200 fire outbreaks were recorded nation-wide between January to November this year. A total of 3,249 fire outbreaks were recorded within the same period in 2008. Mr. William Brown-Quaye, Chief Fire Officer, who announced this in Accra on Thursday, said this represented a reduction of 1,049 fire outbreaks representing an impressive decrease of 19.26 per cent. He was addressing the closing session of a two-day meeting for Directors and Regional Fire Officers on how to combat rampant fire outbreaks in the country. The Chief Fire Officer urged the participants to liaise with other stakeholders, the Regional Coordinating Councils, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies as well as the opinion leaders for better public education on fire prevention. He appealed to all stakeholders to help equip the GNFS with the needed equipment and logistics to operate efficiently and effectively. Mr. Brown-Quaye said the management of GNFS was negotiating to purchase Aerial Appliance used in fighting and handling high-rise building fires therefore a meeting with owners of high-rise buildings had been scheduled for Accra on December 17. He appealed to stakeholders, owners and tenants operating within the various high-rise buildings to make budgetary provision for the mutually beneficial investment. The Chief Fire Officer commended government for its pledge to resource the GNFS and Regional Commanders for their initiative to repair some of their broken down fire tenders.