The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) was on Thursday exposed to the challenges in dealing with fire on high-rise buildings during a simulation exercise at the Societe Generale Bank at the Ring Road Central in Accra.
Apart from the lack of space on the premises of the bank to manoeuvre the fire engine around, the turntable ladder (TL) could also not reach the sixth floor of the building.
Need for TLs The Greater Accra Regional Commander of the GNFS, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Nana Brenya, told journalists after the exercise how important it was for the government to provide the service with modern logistics and equipment such as hydraulic platforms which could access high-rise buildings in the country.
According to him, there were only three operational TL vehicles in the country.
He advised property owners to conform to the building code for high-rise buildings by including emergency exits in their structures.
He observed that following the increasing number of high-rise buildings in the country, there was the need to continue with such simulation exercises to get the service ready for any eventuality.
He said his outfit would also visit some fuel stations in the Greater Accra Region to ascertain their levels of preparedness in an event of a fire outbreak.
Permit Nana Brenya further urged the city authorities to ensure that owners of high-rise buildings obtained the necessary certification and permits.
“When property owners fail to do what they are supposed to do, they put lives at risk,” he stated.
<<Print>>