Central Regional Fire Service Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer 1, John Amarlai Amartey has called on the general public to play their part to assist in combating fire outbreaks in the country.
Making the call at a durbar to mark the International Firefighters’ Day yesterday, he hinted that his outfit is working hard to serve the country despite the several challenges the Service encountering which according to him effects fire officers psychologically and however called on the general public to offer their assistance in combating fire outbreaks nationwide.
“In most cases personnel in trying to manage emergency situations will also have to deal with impatient victims or their relatives, roadside experts, who never get satisfied with the work of fire personnel, loud mouth spectators and sometimes all-knowing journalists and inadequate firefighting equipment which make the work difficult for the fire man,” he said.
He noted that the celebration of the Firefighters Day is significant in highlighting the work and immense contribution of fire service officers whose efforts usually go unappreciated.
“Over the years a number of personnel in the country were lost and some sustain various degree of injuries in trying to save lives and properties of people they do not know,” he stated.
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He further said Central Region is one that is highly recognized for producing a number of gallant fire officers who have contributed to the service in diverse ways and have risen through the ranks of the service to occupy top positions.
ACFO1, Amartey indicated that the Fire Service has risen above the fear of incidence emanating from the history and records of fire personnel who have died or sustained various degrees of injurious in their line of duty.
He however added that despite the Service’s effort to serve the nation, most people have exhibited disregard for the work of the service, “indeed the sacrifices of these men in fire uniform go unappreciated most of the time but they never mind, the zeal and commitment to save lives and properties rather keeps them going on with their work”.
He however called on the general public to play their parts by reporting incidence of fire outbreak on time and added that road users should also sacrifice their right to passage when fire siren approaches to enable a timely intervention by the Fire Service to salvage fire outbreak emergencies.
On his part, a representative of the Central Regional Minister and a Chief Budget Analyst at the Central regional Coordinating Council, Bless Kwame Darkey assured the service of the government support by equipping the Service to help them deliver their task to the desired standard.
He also used the platform to appeal to all Fire Service officers to eschew unaccepted behaviours that put the service’s image into disrepute.
He noted, “I would like to entreat all Fire Service Personnel in the Region to eschew any attitude and behaviour that has the potential of bringing the name of the Service into disrepute. Indeed, I urge you to work hard and to put the name of the Firefighters in the Central Region on the International map by exhibiting high sense of professionalism in your line of duty”.
International Firefighters’ Day
International Firefighters’ Day was first established in 1999 to honour the five firefighters who died in Wildfire in Victoria, Australia and has since been observed every year on May 4th to recognize and honour the sacrifices of firefighters globally who risk their lives for others and protections of properties on a daily basis.
SOURCE: ERIC SEKYI/ATLFMNEWS
