Fire Commander
proposes underground water reservoirs in big markets
Cape Coast,
September 27, Ghanadot/GNA - Mr Alex Hughes, Central
Regional Fire Commander of the Ghana National Fire
Service (GNFS), on Friday suggested the provision of
built-in underground water reservoirs in all major
markets, to enable firemen to have ready access to
water to help stem the devastating effects of
fire-outbreaks there.
He said such reservoirs, which should be provided
alongside already existing fire hydrants, should at
least have storage capacities of 45,000 litres,
since the hydrants most often had very low pressure
or do not flow at all.
He said this compelled firemen to travel far to
replenish the water in the tenders in times of fire
outbreaks.
Mr Hughes made the suggestion when some members of
the GNFS Council, led by the chairman, Nana Frimpong
Anokye-Ababio addressed a durbar of personnel of the
service in the region as part of a familiarization
tour, in Cape Coast.
On the health and alertness of personnel of the
service, Mr Hughes urged the Council to make
physical training a policy and a routine, as was
done in other countries.
He said 183 fire outbreaks have been recorded from
January this year to date, 305 last year, and 265
and 176 in 2006 and 2005 respectively.
Mr Hughes appealed for an ambulance for the
service’s rescue team, and utility vehicles for the
various district offices, and the continuation and
completion of a new regional headquarters which he
said had come to a halt following the death of the
contractor.
He also appealed for the completion of the fire
station at Assin-Fosu, and for the renovation of
those at Winneba and Mankessim which were in
deplorable states.
Mr Ferkah, Chief Fire Officer briefed the personnel
about plans being evolved by the government to
enhance their operations as well as improve their
working conditions.
He said the government had secured a $15 million
dollar loan for the purchase of more fire tenders,
as well as plans to set up a training college to
improve fire-fighting techniques in the country.
Nana Anokye–Ababio, also the Paramount chief of
Agona-Ashanti Traditional Area, urged the service
personnel to intensify the campaign against fire
outbreaks to help stem the devastating effects of
fire.
GNA
