By Elorm Yao Aryee
The Volta Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has demonstrated its preparedness to respond to emergency situations pertaining to fire outbreaks on storey buildings in the region.
Several high-rise buildings are springing up in Ho the regional capital in particular, which has seen massive transformations in infrastructural development in recent times. In order to avert the loss of lives and properties during fire outbreaks, the Regional Command of the Fire Service has conducted a simulation exercise at the National Communication Authority (NCA) building in Ho to test its contingency plans.
The simulation exercise saw officers from the Command exhibiting hazard mitigation exercises and evacuation drills during a fire emergency scenario. The fire service personnel also displayed the latest techniques of fire-fighting and management services. The exercise lasted for an hour with officers from the National Ambulance Service and other security agencies providing support to the firefighters.
The Volta Regional Commander of the GNFS, Assistant Chief Fire-Officer 1, Joy Ameyibor-Ayim said the purpose of the exercise is to sharpen the skills of his personnel in response to fire outbreaks. “You realised that the NCA building is among high-rise buildings in Ho, therefore there is a need for us to conduct this simulation to create awareness so that occupants will be privy to means of evacuation in orderly manner during infernos.
In circumstances like this, in attempts to escape the scene to safety, people are in hurry to exit, and in effect causes a stampede and lots of injuries and casualties- that is what we want to prevent. So this exercise is basically to prepare the minds of the people to know how to react in cases of fire outbreaks or emergencies,” he said.
ACFO 1 Ameyibor-Ayim entreated the public to consult the fire service for permits when they embark on building projects to prevent disasters. “The general public should know that we are here to assist them, fire safety measures are to ensure that anybody is safe, and there will be dire consequences if you go contrary to such measures. We do not want to come fighting fire, we want to prevent it,-that is why we advise that they seek for permits before they put up building projects. Firefighting is a shared responsibility, and it begins with safety by individuals”, the Regional GNFS Commander noted.
The Volta/Oti Zonal Manager of the National Communication Authority, David Dartey thanked the personnel of the Fire Service for the exercise, saying that staff of the NCA, and other agencies on the building such as the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and Coastal Development Authority (CODA) have learnt a lot of lessons on how to run to safety in an orderly manner in emergency cases. “NCA Volta/Oti Zone is privileged that this simulation exercise has been conducted at our premises. It has given us in-depth education to defend ourselves during fire outbreaks at our premises.
Our building is host to, the NPA, CODA and their staff, and I am hopeful the knowledge we have acquired will enable us to save lives and properties on our premises in cases of disaster though we will ensure that we do everything necessary to prevent it”, he said.
“We thank the Director General of NCA, Mr. Joe Anokye and the NCA management team for giving us a quick response and approval for this exercise, even at short notice,” Mr. Dartey said.
