GNFS RECORDED A 2.9 PERCENT REDUCTION IN FIRE OUTBREAKS IN THE COUNTRY- CHIEF FIRE OFFICER

By – Masabudu Jinkor

The Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, GNFS, Julius Kuunor described as a pivotal investment in the safety and security of our communities and the reinforcement of the critical role played by personnel of the service in safeguarding lives, property and the environment from the ravages of fire and related life-threatening incidents the establishment of the Wungu Fire Academy and Training School in the North East Region of Ghana.

The Chief Fire Officer who disclosed this during the official commissioning of the newly completed Fire Academy and Training School at Wungu near Walewale was glad to announce that with the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in sensitising the populace on fire prevention and control, the service recorded a 2.9 percent reduction of fire outbreaks in the country last year.

He indicated that a total of 5,973 fire outbreaks were recorded in 2023 as against 6,154 in 2022. A decrease by 181 representing 2.9 percent adding that the service attended to 594 Road Traffic Accidents and recorded 2,801 injured with 274 deaths in 2023 as against 624 accidents attended to in 2022 with 2,801 injured and 348 deaths. He further said a total of 188 Rescued Duties were performed by the service and recorded 130 injured with 42 deaths as against 155 Rescued Duties performed in 2022 with 71 injured and 31 deaths.

These Rescue Duties according to the national fire service boss involved people drowning in dams, rivers and wells, people falling into manholes and toilet pits, bee attacks or invasions of homes, Churches, Mosques and Schools saying personnel used foam concentrate to drive the bees away as well as people being trapped in elevators and others with their legs stacked in metal slabs among others.

The Chief Fire Officer lauded government’s resolve to retool the service as well as enhance the training and preparedness of firefighters to ensure they are well equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills necessary to handle the dynamic challenges of the fire fighting profession.

He recollected that in December 2022, government commissioned the asphalted overlay of the James Town Fire Academy and Training School, a One-Storey Male Dormitory, One-Storey Female Dormitory, Two-Storey Classroom Block, a new Dining Hall and a Two Hydraulic Platforms of 72 metres each that can reach the 6th floor to fight fire and rescue victims adding it was unprecedented in the history of the service.

Again, he announced that the completion of a yet-to-be commissioned Three-Storey Forensic Laboratory facility built at the headquarters by the government would effectively enhance the operations of the service through the scientific identification of the causes of incidents including fire and not merely classified as accident and true cause gone unnoticed.

In a related development, he disclosed that the passage of the GNFS Regulation 2020(LI 2415) had raised the morale of personnel of the service to give off their best in ensuring professionalism.

Source – gbcuraonline.com