Tema-Ghana, Dec. 23, GNA – The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) Tema Regional Command has intensified fire safety education ahead of the Christmas festivities to prevent fire outbreaks.
The campaign is also to bring attention to the fire challenges of the period, which also ushers in the dry season.
Divisional Officer Grade I (DOI) Franklin Masiku, the Tema GNFS Deputy Regional Commander, told the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office, in an interview that the command has rolled out and intensified fire preventive education for institutions and the public ahead of the festive season.
DOI Masiku said the GNFS Tema Regional Command, as part of their measures to curb fire outbreaks, embarked on the public education and premises visit.
He asked the people to quickly call the Fire Service contact numbers in case of any fire incidents at their premises.
He also advised that in case there is a fire outbreak in a tall building, the occupants must avoid the use of the building’s elevators to exit the facility but rather use the staircase.
“You might get trapped in an elevator in case of fire outbreak as the operations systems might be compromised,” DOI Masiku cautioned.
He said people who visit facilities, shops, entertainment centres, offices, and other public spaces should adhere to parking lot instructions provided to them by security officers as wrongful parking could obstruct the work of GNFS and other emergency service providers as it hindered easy passage.
The GNFS Tema Regional Commander said: “When you hear the GNFS siren give way, it is an emergency alarm.”
DOI Masiku cautioned the public that since the harmattan season was approaching, the moisture content in the atmosphere would reduce and combustibles could easily trigger fire outbreak.
He stated that the public should always check to see if their cylinders were in good shape before refilling, stressing gas cylinders should not be refilled to the brim since they could easily catch fire.
He also explained that after refilling the gas cylinder, “when you get home no matter the means of transporting it to your destination, wait for at least 30 minutes before usage. Gas cylinders should not be used beyond ten years”.
He also cautioned children should not be allowed to either switch on or put off the gas cooker.
He also advised the public to desist from using bigger cylinders at home, and recommended the 14.5 gas cylinder for domestic purposes, adding that the gas cylinder should be mounted outside the kitchen.
DOI Masiku said that the GNFS Fire Safety Unit also ensures the enforcement of LI1724 on fire precaution regulations at all institutions and companies.
He also advised all drivers using the LPG to always check their containers and respect driving precautions since they were at a higher risk of catching fire than other vehicles.
