The Ghana National Fire Service(GNFS) says the public can still count on it to deal with fires in high-rise buildings albeit at a slower pace.

Following the recent fire that gutted the Grenfell Tower in London, the GNFS was cited in many reports allegedly claiming to be incapacitated in dealing with emergencies from high-rise buildings.

But the GNFS explains although it is still capable of dealing with such situations, it noted that firemen may contend with efficiency and effectiveness in such operations because of lack of requisite or modern equipment by his outfit.

Speaking on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Divisional Officer Prince Billy Anaglatey, said that it has become imperative for them to start working with sophisticated gadgets due to the springing up of high-rise buildings in the cities.

“As much as the Fire Service is saying that we have a turntable ladder that can take us to fifth floor, we also need to be resourced with the modern equipment like the helicopters and the hydraulic platform. The hydraulic platform can take us to over and above 20 floors. So when we are also equipped with the helicopters and the hydraulic platforms, I believe that it’ll improve our operations and effectiveness and efficiency than the turntable that we are having now and working with. That is not to say that when fires are above the fifth floor we will not be able to fight it. We would, but it’ll not be as effective and efficient as if we have the suitable appliances and equipment that can take us to any of the floors that the emergency will start from.” he told Kasapa FM.