By
Samira Larbie/Thelma Abbey, GNA
Accra, July 11, GNA – Mr Ambrose Dery,
Minister of the Interior, has commissioned a smoke chamber for the Fire Academy
and Training School (FATS) to enable trainees gain exposure to firefighting
before being confronted with real life situations.
The smoke chamber, named after the late GOI
Hannah Yawson, a fire officer who died in line of duty eight years ago, is
expected to enhance the quality of training offered by the School.
The smoke chamber is a confined environment
and a basic infrastructure required in every professional firefighting training
institution to enrich its drilling programmes.
The Acting Chief Fire Officer, Edwin Ekow
Blankson, speaking at the event, said over the years responders had had
challenges working in confined environments because it was one area that they
did not have too much exposure due to the lack of a simulator to introduce fire
fighters to such situations.
The facility, he said, would therefore give
trainees the exposure required to function as they should in their line of
duty.
He said similar smoke chambers would be
constructed at the Sekondi Fire Station and Bolgatanga to improve training.
The Acting Chief Fire Officer, however, called
on government to provide an insurance package for officers who lose their lives
and get injured in the course of their duty.
He also
expressed appreciation to the Interior Minister for helping to procure some key
equipment for firefighting, the National Insurance Commission (NIC), Benso Oil
Palm Plantation Limited and African Concrete Products (ACP) for their support
in the construction of the smoke chamber.
Mr Dery commended the Command for the
initiative, adding that the need for fire fighters to be trained in using
Breathing Apparatus efficiently during emergencies could not be over
emphasised.
He said it was key due to the kind of building
materials used in recent times, which had the tendency of producing hazardous
fumes and smoke which could be injurious to the health of fire fighters if
exposed without respiratory protection.
The Minister said the President recognised
that effective training coupled with adequate tooling was critical for
effective service delivery and therefore would not relent in its effort to
build the capacity of fire fighters to enable the Service discharge its mandate
to the nation efficiently.
“Efforts are far advanced to procure Hydraulic
Platforms to aid your firefighting in high rise buildings. Government is
determined to ensure that the Service lives up to its mandate as well as be one
of the best on the continent.”
He said Government was also making efforts to
recruit more personnel and to improve the supply of major operational equipment
to ensure the service was well equipped.
“I hope the use of this facility will
translate into efficiency and safety of our firefighters on the incident
ground,” he stated.
GNA