The technology was developed in partnership with some international organisations and has the capacity to detect and predict wildfires in the entire West African Sub-region.

[contextly_sidebar id=”s1hJRNPrDlLtWiwTL6S3HRfZ4YlZa9R5″]Officials of the University at a meeting with management of the Fire service, proposed moves to link the fire alert system to the information communications technology platform of the Fire service.

The Head of the Earth Observation Research Centre of the University, Dr Amos Kabo-Bah, who led a delegation to the Ghana National Fire Service Headquarters, stated that the Fire alert system will help manage fire outbreaks in the country.

Dr. Amos Kabo-Bah, speaking to Citi News, said the system would help the Fire Service fight fire better in the country.

According to him, “the uniqueness of this system is that, it collects data from two sources; now one source is the satellite information, in fact in our discussions with the Ghana Fire Service, we realized that if for an example you have a wild fire and a forest is burnt down somewhere completely, usually some of these statistics are not recorded because nobody is there.”

“The other part is that, we are trying to engage the use of inexpensive cameras that could also monitor especially in areas that is very difficult to locate by satellite like market places and the use of specialized sensors and the fact that our weather also controls the degree of the damage caused by fire because if you have a fire and the wind is blowing so strongly, it is possible that it may spread to other areas that if not controlled on time can also be destroyed.”

He added that, “the work we will be doing at the centre will be directly feeding into the Ghana national fire service control room (let me call it that way), so that in real time they can also see what is happening.”

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By: Michael ogbodu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The modern equipment of the service cannot fight fires beyond five floors of any building. This means any building beyond five floors cannot be saved should it catch fire.

This is frightening, considering the current increase in high-rise buildings in Ghana.

Following the recent fire that gutted the Grenfell Tower in London, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Divisional Officer Prince Billy Anaglatey, noted that should fire engulf any high rise building, the fire service may not be able to save the situation.

Speaking to citifmonline.com over the weekend, Billy Anaglatey explained that, even though their counterparts in London had all the sophisticated gadgets used in controlling fire, they still had problems fighting the fire for days.

“Unfortunately, with the high rise buildings that we have in Ghana now, some are as high as 20 floors and above, but the turntable ladder that the fire service has can take up to only the fifth floor, so what of the floors after the fifth floor?” he quizzed.

He was of the view that “so you can agree with me that it will be more difficult for the Ghana National Fire Service to fight such fire since we do not have all the necessary tools used in fighting fire.”

According to Billy Anaglatey, there are several facilities that need to be installed in high rise buildings to assist fire fighting and rescue in case of any emergency.

“…So if those high rise buildings do not have the facilities that will assist the fire fighters to get to floors above the fifth floor, then I think we are in trouble. We are in trouble in the sense that, when we are able to get to the fifth floor we can only manage with our skills and expertise to get to the floors above that. This approach is not enough considering that life and property will be at risk. That is why the fire service has and will always continue to call on owners of such buildings to make sure they meet all the set standards. As an institution we would appreciate it if the owners of high rise buildings will strictly adhere to our fire safety regulations”.

He stated that, the fire service needs to be well-resourced to enable it protect life and property during emergencies.

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By: Naa Kwaamah Siaw-Marfo/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We can’t fight fire above 5 floors – GNFS appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The shop owner, Rose Fummey, told Citi News she heard a loud explosion of fire-crackers moments after seeing fire lit by a woman who sells fire-crackers close to her store.

“A woman sells fire-crackers beside me, I heard a loud sound and after getting close, I saw fire from the woman’s end and that razed the stores,” she said.

Rose Fummey said, she lost everything in her store including cash of about GH¢36,000 which she had kept in the store.

A six-bedroom apartment was also affected by the fire which was successfully doused at the time Citi News‘ Elvis Washington arrived at the scene.

Reports by the Ghana National Fire Service indicates that, fire incidents in the country soar especially within the harmattan season when dry air is experienced, making it easy for fire to spread through combustible materials.

Meanwhile, the Fire Service has urged the public to observe all fire safety regulations especially within this season to avoid fire outbreaks.

The Service in an earlier interview with Citi News said although it has put in place adequate measures to deal with any fire incident, the public must ensure it undertakes activities that prevent the incidents in the first place.

Although the use of fire crackers is illegal in Ghana, the products are used during the festive season as they find their way into the country unlawfully.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Tonny Gomez, the Regional Fire Officer, who announced this said property, costing about GHs22,011,322.11 was also destroyed.

He was speaking at the launch of Regional Home Fire Safety Certification (HFSC) Project and the 2016/2017 bush fire prevention campaign in Sunyani.

This ties in with the nationwide effort to inform and educate the population on the need to adopt and put in place fire safety measures, sensitize homeowners and individuals to procure firefighting equipment and early fire prevention devices to reduce fire emergencies.

“Ensuring effective home fire certification and practices” was the theme chosen for the event.

ACFO Gomez indicated that domestic fire incidents had kept growing in the region and urged everybody to heed safety education.

He called for all to acquire fire extinguishers for their homes and work-places to enable them to prevent any fire outbreak from spreading before the arrival of firefighters.

The HFSC project dubbed ‘DUMGYA Project’ is being implemented by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in collaboration with Tiberias Ghana Limited, an Accra-based fire safety and prevention company, which is providing logistics for the sensitization aspect of the project.

The project is assisting to train and equip firefighters with the appropriate technology to conduct inspection, review drawings and certify premises as required by Legislative Instrument (LI) 1724.

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Source: GNA

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This was revealed by Chief Fire Officer at GNFS,Dr Albert Brown Gaisie.

He said the initiative had become necessary due to the increasing domestic fires across the country,adding that“once we reduce domestic fires, the battle is won”.

The Chief Fire Officer said this at the launch of “Home Fire Safety Certificate Project” in the Volta Region at Ho.

He said about 99 per cent of fire incidents were domestic and said the situation calls for creative ways to address the menace.

Dr Gaisie said it is important for the citizenry to make exit plans and emergency movements easy.

Madam Helen Adjoa Ntoso, Regional Minister challenged the public to obtain home fire safety certificate and acquire fire extinguishers to protect live and properties during fire disasters, because, “no amount of money or relief item can replace life.”

Madam Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, Regional Fire Commander said fire safety is a shared responsibility and entreated the public to welcome the Home Fire Safety project, aimed at reducing domestic fires.

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Source: GNA

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The Volta region was the first region to have the project launched in after the national project which was held earlier in Accra aimed at promoting safety fire management in homes and work places.

Records available indicate that from the year 2011 to 2015 a total of 24,500 fires occurred in Ghana of which domestic fires arising from individuals or private homes 10,051 representing 41% of the total outbreaks within those years.

The alarming figures from domestic fires have resulted to the loss of about 188 lives whiles 267 number of people sustained various degrees of injuries.

As part of the campaign, the Ghana National Fire Service with support from other stakeholders would be equipped technologically and financially to help sensitize the general public on the need to adopt safety measures in managing fire disasters.

Beneficiary homes that have met all the fire safety requirements would be certified and supplied with fire alarms, extinguishers and other fire control equipment.

National Service Personals are to be trained to help transfer knowledge to the general public through forums and consultations.

Speaking at the ceremony in Ho today, the chief fire officer Dr Albert Brown Gaisie underscored the need to embrace fire safety measures at homes and offices, and thus called on all including those in the building industry to adopt the appropriate approaches in preventing fire outbreaks.

He said the Volta region is the only region that has the Ghana National Fire Service coverage of about 80%, leaving only three districts to be provided a fire station.

He also commended the officers in the region for their tremendous efforts in controlling disasters in the region and even extending their rescue efforts to neighboring Togo upon a distress call from that country to the admiration of the President of the Republic of Togo Faure Gnassingbe.

The Volta regional minister Hon Hellen Adjoa Ntosu also pledged government’s commitments to support the Ghana National Fire Service in order to save lives and properties.

She said during their tenure an additional ten (10) fire stations were established to augment the existing 12 stations in the region.

The Home Fire Safety Certification Project dubbed “DUMGYA” is expected to be extended to other regions in the country.

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By: Norbert Akpabli /citifmonline.com/Ghana

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