The Western Fire Command of the Ghana National Fire Service is advising the general public and all other organizations to notify the Ghana National Fire Service before embarking on any road blockage.
This is in accordance with Li 17, 24 regulation 16 under road blocks and diversion law, which states that the chief fire officer must be notified within 24 hours for a pre-planning at the fire station to curtail lateness when there is a fire.
ADO2 Efua Pongo, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, told Skyy News that road and diversion blockages without informing the fire service can make it difficult for them to respond to emergencies.
“This creates a lot of problems for us and delays our time, which in return may lead to a total destruction or death of the property or individual we are going to save,” she said.
ADO2 Pongo urged organizations and individuals to first seek permission or alert the fire service before blocking any road so that the fire service can make its diversion plan in times of an emergency.
She also warned against prank calls to the National Fire Service, which is an offense. Anyone found guilty is liable to a summary conviction of 100 penalty units and 6 months imprisonment.
ADO2 Pongo urged the general public to desist from prank calls as it hinders the delivery of their work. People who are caught in this act are liable to a prison sentence and fine as well.
Why is it important to notify the Fire Service before blocking roads?
There are a few reasons why it is important to notify the Fire Service before blocking roads:
- In the event of an emergency, the Fire Service needs to be able to respond quickly and efficiently. If they are not aware of a road blockage, it may delay their response time and could put lives at risk.
- Road blockages can also cause traffic congestion and disruption. By notifying the Fire Service, they can develop a diversion plan to help minimize the impact on traffic.
- Prank calls to the Fire Service can be a serious nuisance and can waste valuable resources. If you are caught making a prank call, you could be liable to a fine or even imprisonment.
How to notify the Fire Service before blocking a road
If you need to block a road for any reason, you should notify the Fire Service at least 24 hours in advance. You can do this by calling your local fire station or by visiting their website.
When you notify the Fire Service, you should provide them with the following information:
- The date and time of the road blockage
- The location of the road blockage
- The reason for the road blockage
- Any other relevant information, such as the length of the road blockage or any alternative routes that can be used