Cape Coast, September 27, GNA - Mr Alex Hughes, Central Regional Fire Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), on Friday suggested the provision of built-in underground water reservoirs in all major markets, to enable firemen to have ready access to water to help stem the devastating effects of fire-outbreaks there. He said such reservoirs, which should be provided alongside already existing fire hydrants, should at least have storage capacities of 45,000 litres, since the hydrants most often had very low pressure or do not flow at all.

He said this compelled firemen to travel far to replenish the water in the tenders in times of fire outbreaks.

Mr Hughes made the suggestion when some members of the GNFS Council, led by the chairman, Nana Frimpong Anokye-Ababio addressed a durbar of personnel of the service in the region as part of a familiarization tour, in Cape Coast. On the health and alertness of personnel of the service, Mr Hughes urged the Council to make physical training a policy and a routine, as was done in other countries. He said 183 fire outbreaks have been recorded from January this year to date, 305 last year, and 265 and 176 in 2006 and 2005 respectively. Mr Hughes appealed for an ambulance for the service's rescue team, and utility vehicles for the various district offices, and the continuation and completion of a new regional headquarters which he said had come to a halt following the death of the contractor. He also appealed for the completion of the fire station at Assin-Fosu, and for the renovation of those at Winneba and Mankessim which were in deplorable states. Mr Ferkah, Chief Fire Officer briefed the personnel about plans being evolved by the government to enhance their operations as well as improve their working conditions. He said the government had secured a $15 million dollar loan for the purchase of more fire tenders, as well as plans to set up a training college to improve fire-fighting techniques in the country. Nana Anokye-Ababio, also the Paramount chief of Agona-Ashanti Traditional Area, urged the service personnel to intensify the campaign against fire outbreaks to help stem the devastating effects of fire.