GNFS cautions public against false fire alarms

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has expressed worry over the high number of false alarms it receives on daily basis.

The Service is therefore calling on the public to desist from the act of calling its emergency lines for no reasonable purpose.

According to the Central Regional Command of the Service, it receives more than 40 false fire alarms a day at its regional headquarters alone a situation it described as very worrying.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, (ACFO) Semekor Kwaku Fiadzo, Regional Fire Commander sounded the caution at an open day to climax this year’s fire safety week aimed at allowing the public to have access to the operational procedures of the Service.

The open-day which was also to eradicate public negative perception about the Service was attended by basic school children, students from senior high schools, traders and commercial house owners.

In his welcoming address, the Regional Fire Commander charged the public to call the emergency lines of the Service only when their services are needed and indicated that it is going to intensify its public education to include school children.

“We believe that with our limited resources, it is better to prevent fires from occurring through public education" for people to become conscious of fire safety to prevent fire rather than allowing it to destroy lives and properties, He stated

ACFO Fiadzo urged the public to desist from blatant disregard for basic fire safety rules, overloading of electrical sockets, improper and careless usage of LPG gas, inappropriate handling of hydrocarbons and flammable liquids among others which are major causes of fire outbreaks.

He called on the public to adhere to the many fire safety educational campaigns and precautions being undertaken by the Service to help build a strong nation devoid of fires, disasters and road accidents.

ACFO Fiadzo reminded the public that it is an offense for one build without fire safety permit and therefore advised prospective developers to acquire fire safety certificates before doing so.

It said the Service is not going to accept ignorance for an excuse.

Some of the participants who spoke to the Ghana News Agency said they were enlightened about the work of the Fire service as they learnt that it included rescue operations during disasters and road accidents in addition to fire fighting.