The Ghana Fire Service (GNFS) has disclosed that it should not take them more than five minutes to respond to emergencies, particularly fire outbreaks.

The service explained that should they receive the calls on their emergency numbers, coupled with the closeness of a fire station to the scene of the outbreak, it should not take them more than five minutes to respond.

Head of Public Relations, Desmond Ackah, disclosed that the personnel from the GNFS are well prepared and trained to attend to emergencies.

He has therefore advised Ghanaians to call their emergency numbers immediately if they encounter an outbreak.

One major challenge he spoke against was prank calls, which he lamented sometimes affect their effectiveness.

He urged the Ghanaian public to desist from prank-calling the GNFS since that can affect them and their efficiency in responding to genuine fire outbreaks.

He also debunked assertions that the GNFS does not respond to outbreaks on time.

Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he assured the public that the GNFS is there to serve, and whenever people are in urgent need of their services, all they need to do is call 112, 192, and the hotline 0302772446.

He stated that despite the challenges they have, they are always committed to discharging their duties.

Fire outbreaks, he said, are a threat to human life and businesses, and we all have a collective responsibility in dealing with it.

He advised Ghanaians to buy fire extinguishers for their loved ones as part of the Christmas and New Year’s gifts.

“We have to protect human life and property and preserve peace and stability as we celebrate the festive season,” he added.

He also revealed that combating fire outbreaks was not the only thing they do, but when people are trapped in elevators and other facilities, the fire service can be called to provide help.

“No matter where the fire outbreak occurred or where the emergency is located, we are equipped and trained to respond to all cases when you call us on time. If you contact the emergency numbers and do not prank us, we should arrive within five minutes, depending on where the incident occurred and the nearest fire station, and give the services the people require.”

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