The Western Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service has expressed serious concern about what it says are growing incidents of obstruction of duty during disasters by members of the public.

The command has therefore cautioned the public to stay away from the immediate perimeters of fire disasters and keep the mandatory safety distance of 100-500 meters to enable firemen to contain fire situations.

Collision

According to the command, some members of the public throw caution to the wind even in dangerous situations such as accidents involving fuel tankers and bulk road vehicle (BRV), and instead of relocating to safe distances, rather choose to win fuel for sale at the peril of their lives.

Speaking to the media during a mi-year briefing in Sekondi, the Regional Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Gaddiel Napoleon Amoah Ebonyi said during its response to road traffic collision incidents as well as other hazardous situations they are confronted with serious, unsolicited intrusion.

He said liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) leakage and other fuel spillage can occur from domestic, industrial and road accidents.

He said during firemen’s response to these incidents however, they experience a challenge with teeming crowds who are either trying to catch glimpses of the incidents or trying to help extinguish the fire.

We appreciate but…
“While we appreciate your efforts as members of the public to assist and acknowledge the importance of such interventions, we wish to advise the public to stay away so as not to endanger their lives and health”, he said.

“In these critical moments in our response to such disasters, we are confronted with the challenge of teeming crowds from communities who come to scoop spilled fuel therefore increasing the risk factor of the operation and their own lives,” he said.

He said such behaviours on the part of the public must be condemned outright, saying “Liquid fuels/petroleum products by their nature are highly inflammable and quickly form explosive vapours which can easily ignite from the least amount of heat energy, such as that which can be generated when the item being used to scoop the fuel scrapes the road surface or any hard surface, and even lead to explosions.”

Stay away
Mr. Ebonyi said in a recent incident near the Takoradi Container Terminal (TACOTEL) involving the collision of a fuel tanker/bulk road vehicle and a train, there was a rather disheartening rush by the public for the spilled fuel.

“Aside the dangers they exposed themselves to in their quest to scoop fuel, the recommended social distancing as required under the Coronavirus (covid-19) protocols was blatantly disregarded by the crowd clamouring for the free spilled fuel including some women who had babies strapped to their backs,” he said.

“The command therefore wishes to caution the general public to stay away from such scenes and desist from the practice of siphoning and scooping fuel from tankers/bulk road vehicles involved in road accidents,” he said.

To curb the situation, he said the service in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service would henceforth strictly enforce the recommended safety distances for incident scenes, and offenders shall be arrested and prosecuted.

Minimum safety distance
“For fires at heavy commercial and industrial premises or involving highly inflammable fuels, the recommended minimum safety distance is 500-meters.”

He said firemen can do their work efficiently and professionally with the cooperation and support of the general public who must adhere to the fire and other safety precautions and prevention protocols.

The Western Region, he said, has recorded a total of 189 fire incidents since January 2020.

“Out of these incidents, a total of five persons lost their lives and three persons have sustained various degrees of injuries. The Region has also recorded a total of six road traffic collision incidents, with one person sustaining injuries”, he said.