GNFS decries increasing fire disasters despite education

The Chief Fire Officer, Dr. Albert Brown-Gaisie, says the tendency for people to negligently cause fire outbreak and turn to government for support must stop.

He observes despite on-going public education, Ghanaians continue to flout fire safety regulations with impunity.

Dr. Brown-Gaisie was on a visit to the Kumasi Central Market to sympathize with traders who lost their property in Wednesday’s fire that destroyed over 100 shops.
Just three days after fire ravaged sections of the Kumasi Central Market, traders have started rebuilding their shops.

Work on the clearing of debris is underway in earnest as victims begin effort to resettle.

They are determined to resist any attempt by city authorities to prevent them from going ahead with their reconstruction bid.

The leadership of the traders is solidly behind the members in their resolve to brush aside any impediments from any quarters.
Leader of dry fish sellers, Adwenehemaa Nana Amina, who spoke to Joynews, appealed to city authorities to support victims with building materials.

Dr. Brown Gaisie and his entourage had a hectic reaching the heart of the disaster area, as traders take over all access road where they display their wares.
He says the fire incidents is becoming one too many, in the face of intensified public sensitization.

“Inspite of all the education that we have given to the public, people still tend to be adamant to fire safety regulations. Out of our own negligence, carelessness, the fire occurs and we call for government intervention. The government assets are not meant for a group of people; it’s for the whole country and we cannot continue allowing fire to destroy only to seek intervention of government. I don’t think it is right. Safety must come from us”

Meanwhile, Dr. Brown Gaisie says investigation into the cause of the Central Market Fire is on-going, as he calls for stakeholder collaboration in the fight against fires.