BY: JULIET METTLE-EDMONDS
The Sand Model Simulation Exercise for Firefighters within the Greater Accra Regional Command has ended at the Regional Headquarters.
At the last demonstration for officers from four other fire stations, the Regional Commander, ACFO 1 Roberta Aggrey Ghanson said, the educative exercise will enable the Fire Stations to change or update their contingency plan.
The Five weeks sand model simulation exposed the officers from the various fire stations to the benefit of team work in an emergency. The various scenarios focused on a likely incident to occur within their vicinity.
For the last batch, they were to assume that a Bulk Road Vehicle (BRV) carrying fifty-three tons of substance with identification number UN1075 was conveying the product from Accra and to be delivered at a sales outlet at Kofikrom in the Central Region.
While negotiating a curve at KNC, a densely populated Central Business District, the BRV fell on its side which buried the delivery outlet of the tank making it impossible to syphon its contents.
The driver and his mate got trapped in the vehicle whilst a motorbike rider with a passenger and a driver of a saloon car were severely injured. The driver of the salon car had a spine injury while the passenger on the motorbike fell off and was unconscious. Due to the impact of the fall on the ground, the rear side of the tank had a defect causing a leakage of the substance.
This incident occurred in the peak hours of a working day where business activities were brisk, traffic was at gridlocks and people were seen rushing to the scene. With the sand model, Team Chaley was to assume it to be the incident ground while performing the role as incident responders.
Looking at the dense population of the area and commercial activities, how would the team handle the situation, play the role as the Fire Master Control, which agencies are they expected in the scenario, indicate the role of various agencies and logistical needs should the event be a protracted one.
The Officers said the exercise has broadened their minds on how to involve other agencies during an emergency.
The Deputy Director of Operations DO1 Joseph Forson touched on the performance of the fire fighters.
With the corrections and updates of the fire-fighters, the Regional Commander, ACFO 1 Roberta Aggrey Ghanson believes it will ensure quality service delivery to the nation.
At the last demonstration for officers from four other fire stations, the Regional Commander, ACFO 1 Roberta Aggrey Ghanson said, the educative exercise will enable the metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Fire Stations to change or update their contingency plan.
The Batch Five Officers known as Team Chaley were drawn from the Industrial Area, Accra City Dansoman and Korle-Bu Fire Stations.
The next exercise is expected to commence within the last quarter of 2023.
