NCCE Adentan partner Fire Service and AdMA to Sensitize Fashion Designers on "Fire Management: Safety, Prevention, Preparedness and Response"

A moment of carelessness around an iron, an overloaded extension board, or a faulty socket can turn a fashion workshop into a fire scene within minutes. Recognising the fire risks associated with the use of electrical appliances, fabrics and other combustible materials, the NCCE Adentan Municipal Office, in collaboration with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Adentan Command and the Adentan Municipal Assembly (AdMA), has sensitised fashion apprentices on fire safety.

The programme, held at LifeWay Church, Ashiyie, brought together artisans and apprentices of the Ghana Cooperative Fashion Designers Association (GCFDA). It was held under the theme “Fire Management: Safety, Prevention, Preparedness and Response.”

The engagement sought to equip participants with practical knowledge on preventing fire outbreaks, responding appropriately during emergencies, and protecting themselves, their workplaces and communities.

Opening the session, Mr. Alexander O. Siaw of the NCCE introduced staff of the Commission and officers of the GNFS. He explained that the collaboration formed part of efforts to promote civic responsibility, safety awareness and the protection of lives and property.

The Municipal Officer-in-Charge of Safety, Mr. Eric Opoku Ampomaa, who led a four-member GNFS team, served as the resource person. He took participants through the basic causes of fire, sources of fire, safety precautions, preventive measures, and appropriate responses during fire emergencies.

Mr. Opoku explained that fire is a self-sustaining chemical reaction that requires heat, fuel and oxygen. He identified electricity, fuel, machinery and human negligence among common sources of fire, noting that outbreaks can result from accidents, arson, carelessness and unsafe practices.

He particularly cautioned participants against using inappropriate cables, leaving electrical appliances switched on and overloading extension boards. He advised them to unplug irons and other appliances after use, repair faulty sockets, keep flammable materials away from electrical points and avoid connecting too many appliances to a single extension board.

Participants were also introduced to the different classes of fire and the appropriate extinguishing methods for each, including fires involving ordinary combustible materials, flammable liquids and gases, electrical equipment, cooking oils and other specialised materials.

Turning the classroom session into a practical exercise, Mr. Opoku demonstrated the three ways of extinguishing a fire: smothering, starving and cooling. He explained that these methods work by removing oxygen, fuel, or heat, the elements necessary for a fire to continue burning.

He further introduced participants to the PASS technique for operating a fire extinguisher: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep from side to side.

The resource person also emphasised the 3As of fire emergencies: Activate, Assist and Attempt. Participants were encouraged to activate the alarm or call for help, assist others to evacuate where it is safe to do so, and attempt to respond appropriately while prioritising their own safety.

A practical demonstration using dry powder and multipurpose fire extinguishers, as well as a fire blanket, was subsequently held at the forecourt. The demonstration allowed participants to observe how the equipment should be handled during an emergency.

The programme ended with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants sought clarification on various fire-safety concerns. They commended the NCCE and its partners for the initiative and called for more such engagements to improve fire-safety awareness among artisans.

The NCCE Adentan Municipal Office expressed appreciation to the GNFS and GCFDA for their collaboration, stressing that fire safety is not the responsibility of one institution alone but a shared civic duty that requires everyone’s commitment.