ADO Gabriel Bempong, an officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, has called for fire extinguishers to be made compulsory in all households, warning that limiting the requirement to only vehicles and public places leave many homes vulnerable to devastating fire outbreaks.
Speaking in an interview on Bryt Adekyee Mu Nsem with Kwamina Sam Biney, ADO Gabriel Bempong explained that most fire outbreaks begin on a small scale and can be controlled quickly if basic firefighting equipment, such as fire extinguishers, are readily available in homes.
“Fire extinguishers have been made compulsory only for vehicles and public places, but if we look at it carefully, every household also needs a fire extinguisher. Almost every fire starts small, aside from cases involving bombs or other explosive substances. When a fire starts small and you have a fire extinguisher, you can put it out immediately before it grows out of control,” he said.
He also addressed public misconceptions about the role of the Fire Service, noting that their responsibilities go beyond extinguishing fires. According to him, public safety education forms a major part of their work.
“Most of the time, people think our job is only to stop fires. While firefighting is part of our responsibility, we also organize public safety education. We visit markets, schools and other public places to teach people what to do and what not to do so they can stay out of danger and have peace of mind,” he stated.
He further revealed that the Fire Service provides technical support during building construction, stressing that safety considerations are often overlooked in many residential projects. ADO Bimpong said building plans should be submitted to the Fire Service for assessment to ensure proper escape routes in the event of a fire.
“In many communities, safety and security are not prioritized when houses are being built. That is why we encourage people to bring their building plans to us so we can assess issues such as the number of windows available for escape during fire outbreaks,” he explained.
He added that the Fire Service also offers rescue and evacuation services, particularly in cases of building collapse. He said the Service is equipped to rescue trapped victims and advise occupants to evacuate buildings that show signs of structural failure, such as cracks, to prevent loss of life.
He concluded by urging the public and policymakers to prioritize household fire safety, describing the compulsory provision of fire extinguishers in homes as a proactive step that could save lives and reduce property losses.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Tamara Owusu Ansah
