The recent fire outbreaks all over the country have prompted me to write this article. The year 2013 was welcomed all over the world with open arms and good tidings, but we in Ghana for the past one week have been met with over two hundred fire outbreaks all over the country. These fires have caused a lot of destruction to properties worth thousands of Ghana Cedis. It seems those days when fire safety was taught in our basic schools and senior high schools should be revisited.
This was done with the much needed attention that was deserved. Most of these fires happened at industrial complexes where the safety officials went against the laid down regulations. Combustible materials were kept in conditions that could easily spark fires. Indiscriminate burning of bushes has also been on the increase with some farmers losing their farm produce as a result of the carelessness of some of their colleagues, who do not construct fire belts before burning their farms to clear the weeds.
As we are still in the Harmattan season, we must ensure that farmers do the right thing when burning weeds on their farms. This is the time that the Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service should intensify their education on fire safety in the schools and at the various industrial complexes all over the country. Fire can destroy both lives and properties, that is why we need to intensify the awareness and education on fire safety.
The Ghana Fire and Rescue Service must be adequately resourced by the Government, all fire hydrants must be checked for their readiness, and the general public must also be made aware of the consequences of the deliberate setting of fires. One worrying fact is when some companies refuse to disclose vital information concerning materials used in the production of certain products to the Fire Service when there is a fire outbreak on their premises. This leaves the personnel helpless as to the right type of liquid or powder to fight such fires. Let’s all come together and ensure that we use fire for its intended purpose, and not use it in such a way that would lead to destruction of lives and properties. God save Ghana.
Submitted by: Francis Kumadoh, University of Cape Coast
