EQUIP FIRE SERVICE NOW (SEPT 14, 2010)

TRAGEDY struck the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) last Thursday in Accra during a fire simulation exercise at the Cedi House Tower to test the service’s preparedness to fight fire on high-rise buildings.
During the exercise, which was also intended to train workers who use that facility to deal with any fire outbreak, Deputy Group Officer (DGO) Hannah Yawson met her untimely death when she fell from the fifth floor due to equipment failure; a rope tied to a chair in which she was placed for the exercise was reported to have snapped leading to her falling to her death.
We applaud the exercise, since it is one of the efforts by the GNFS to put to test its mandate of saving life and property in the country, especially with the upsurge in fire outbreaks in the nation’s capital and other places.
But this laudable initiative will forever leave a sour taste in the mouths of our fire personnel, if no concrete measures are taken to solve some of the basic logistical problems of the service. In the case of the deceased, we will continue to celebrate her for sacrifacing her life in the service of mother Ghana.
Reports indicate that the rope which was used had been used in previous simulation exercises and was obviously old, to say the least.
It is an undeniable fact that the GNFS is one of the state agencies saddled with lack of logistics and other working equipment required for efficient work. The problems that face the service could be so enormous that space will not permit listing them.
However, considering the very critical role played by the service, it is vital that every effort is made to provide it with some of the basic resources required for its work.
This is imperative taking into consideration the fact that fire outbreaks are becoming rampant in the country. And this will continue to attract headlines if proper measures are not put in place, particularly when there has been increase in the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by the people, and other items which are highly flammable.
We recall that last year when fire gutted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it took the service several hours to put it out because the GNFS was reported not to have the requisite equipment needed to put that fire out. And it is in this regard that the simulation exercise by the GNFS was in the right direction.
The DAILY GRAPHIC finds it worrisome the manner in which the exercise was undertaken, since in such exercises one would have expected the GNFS to use dummies rather than human beings, especially as in our case the service lacked proper firefighting equipment for high-rise buildings.
Perhaps this tragedy should serve as a caution to the personnel of the service not to throw caution to the wind in subsequent simulation exercises.
More importantly, the tragedy is a reminder to the government to turn attention to the logistical needs of the GNFS so that personnel could work efficiently.
In fact, in spite of the lack of adequate working tools, fire personnel have over the years done their best under very strenuous conditions and circumstances. But their effort would be in vain if that is not complemented with the provision of the requisite tools.
We at the DAILY GRAPHIC wish the entire GNFS and the family of DGO Hannah Yawson our heartfelt condolences and pray that the call to provide the service with the necessary tools is heeded because fighting fire without the requisite tools and protection could have dire consequences for the lives of our firefighters.