The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has conducted an essential fire safety training session for staff at Assemblies of God head office in Accra.

The training, which featured both theoretical and practical sessions, aimed to enhance preparedness in fire prevention, emergency response, and proper use of firefighting equipment.

Be calm

During the session, the GNFS team emphasised the importance of remaining calm during a fire outbreak and demonstrated fire suppression techniques, including using wet cloths or fire extinguishers depending on the severity of the fire.

In the practical segment, participants were advised to lower their bodies, cover their faces behind the wet cloths, and cautiously smother flames to extinguish fires effectively.

The GNFS team lead encouraged other organisations to seek similar training to help curb the rising number of fire incidents in the country.

They highlighted the importance of fire prevention measures such as ensuring fires are completely extinguished before leaving them unattended, keeping flammable materials away from heat sources, and avoiding overloading electrical outlets.

Background

The GNFS, under the Ghana National Fire Service Act 537 of 1997, is mandated to conduct public fire education programmes, create awareness of fire hazards, provide technical advice on fire safety, and train personnel in firefighting techniques. Their role also includes coordinating community-level Fire Volunteer Squads and providing rescue and evacuation services during emergencies.

This initiative reaffirms GNFS’s commitment to promoting fire safety awareness and ensuring institutions are well-equipped to handle fire-related emergencies effectively.