Sunyani,– The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has advised the public to quickly inform and engage fire-fighters whenever there is an outbreak.

Divisional Officer Grade Three (DOIII) Ruth Mensah-Tandoh, the Bono Regional Public Relations Officer of the Service, said it was the responsibility of service personnel to save lives and properties.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on the side-lines of a sensitization exercise organised by the GNFS, DOIII Mensah-Tandoh anticipated the severity of the harmattan season, saying the fire-fighters were also ready to avert any fire disaster.

“What we have realised is that many people tried to quench fire outbreaks themselves, but when they notice it was beyond their control then they turn to contact the Service for assistance.

“Sometimes we reach the scenes and the fires have assumed dangerous dimensions. When this happens, it is always difficult to salvage the situation,” she said.

DOIII Mensah-Tandoh said though people needed to assist in fire-fighting, it was also appropriate for the public to contact the service immediately if there was an outbreak.

She said the misuse of LPG was also contributing to domestic fire outbreaks and cautioned users to be extra careful and avoid over-filling the cylinders.

The sensitization exercise, she explained, was in line with the anti-bush fire campaign to be launched as part of this year’s farmers day celebration.

DOIII Mensah-Tandoh said the PNDC Law 229 of 1990, which prohibited people from the indiscriminate setting of fires, was still in force and warned that offenders would be prosecuted.

“People must also replace faulty plugs because they can easily trigger fire outbreaks,” she said.

As part of the exercise, personnel of the service held fire education for traders and market women at the Nana Bosoma Central Market.

Source: Ghana News Agency