Fire outbreak reduces by 41 per cent Fire outbreak reduces by 41 per cent

By Julius K. Satsi, GNA

Accra, Oct. 20, GNA - Mr Ambrose Dery, the Minister of the Interior, has disclosed that statistics on fire outbreaks in the third quarter indicates a reduction of 41 per cent against that of the same period last year.

He said statistics, made available to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), shows that 3,377 fire outbreaks occurred in the third quarter of this year, as against 5,638 last year.

He said the estimated cost of damage amounted to about GH¢ 26,962,322.23 this year as against GH¢ 90,935,819.40 last year.

Mr Dery said this in a speech read on his behalf at the 11th Directors and Regional Fire Officers’ Conference in Accra on the theme: “Transformational Leadership towards Efficient Service Delivery”.

The Interior Minister commended the Service for the hard work but indicated that it was necessary to do more to ensure fire disasters never happened, saying, “I wish there were no fires to cause any damage to property”.

He said the Service needed not to rest on the achievement but must strive to reduce fire outbreaks to the barest minimum.

“We must intensify mass sensitisation and education to drum home safety and fire consciousness in the citizenry,” he said.

Mr Dery charged the participants to find out how to improve on the collaboration with other security services to adopt emergency standard operating procedures, especially during national emergencies.

He challenged participants to find lasting solution to fire disasters, which were becoming unbearable for the country.

Mr Dery recounted recent fire outbreaks like the June 3, 2015 disaster, which claimed more than 150 lives and the Atomic Junction Gas Explosion on October 7, this year, which claimed seven lives and injured many.

He reaffirmed Government’s commitment and support in realising the objectives of the GNFS, saying; “Government would continue to support the Service in the area of staffing and human resource development, logistics, welfare, office and residential accommodation, vehicles and equipment.”

Mr Edwin Ekow Blankson, the Acting Chief Fire Officer, expressed his sympathised with the victims and their families in the Atomic Gas Explosion.

Mr Blankson said as government pursued its ‘One District, One Factory’ Policy, the GNFS would work towards achieving a ‘One District, One Well Equipped Fire Station’ with a Protective Clothing for every fire-fighter.

He said the Service would soon have fire simulators comparable to international standards to facilitate training of fire-fighters to build their confidence to fight industrial and domestic fires.

GNA

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