Training course for fire investigators opens

A five-day training course on fire investigation to build the capacity of personnel of Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is underway in Accra.

The programme organized by GNFS comprised 50 participants across the country, aimed at equipping them with the needed technical skills to investigate fire outbreaks using scientific methods and best practices to arrive conclusively at the cause of fire.

The training course also aims at sharpening participant’s fire investigation reporting skills to enable them produce reports to conform to best practices.

The participants would go through topics such as responsibilities and stages of fire investigation, how to sample and analyse evidence based data, and report writing under the tutelage of seasoned external facilitators from the Police Forensic Laboratories, Ghana Standard Authority and the Insurance Commission.

Mr Wynni Azomyann, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, speaking at the opening session, said the training is part of the service’s continuous improvement training of its personnel to be abreast of new ideas in fire investigation.

Mr Azomyann said the service is committed to provide an efficient valued fire and rescue service to meet statutory requirements in ACT 537 and public expectations, which requires effective training of personnel.

He said the service investigates fire outbreaks to prevent recurrence of dangerous processes or activities such as carelessness or neglect and used for fire safety educational purposes.

Mr Azomyann appealed to government and corporate bodies to assist the service in training personnel abroad and in area of forensic laboratory to perform effectively.

He urged the participants to impact the knowledge and skills acquired in improving fire investigation in the country.