The Eastern Region Fire Officers have and pooled resources to maintain the Regional Headquarters and some district stations.
Personnel contributed GH¢50.00 each from their salaries for the upkeep of the station and out of the fund, together with their own communal efforts, provided several development projects for themselves.
Some of the projects are the construction of a five-unit office accommodation, washrooms and a store-room at the regional headquarters.
The Command also installed street lights at the premises of the headquarters, bought two mowing machines and fans for the crew and watch rooms including the reception.
The personnel are also making a monthly contribution of GH¢2.00 each for buying fuel and servicing the mowing machine and personnel of the New Juaben Fire Station are also contributing to construct a washroom for themselves.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Edward Kweku Eshun, said this at a thanksgiving service the Command held.
He expressed gratitude to his officers and men for their immense support and urged them not to relent in their self-help efforts.
He also thanked Managers of Joy Industries, producers of Joy Dadi Bitters, for coming in to support the roofing of the five-unit office accommodation, the store room and the washroom.
The Command held the thanks-giving service to show their gratefulness to God for granting them safety from all dangers relating to their job as fire fighters in 2014.
Recounting some of the many dangers members of the Command faced during the course of the year, ACFO Eshun said at Bunsu, the firemen rescued trapped accident victims in a pond infested with snakes.
They again placed their lives on the line at Fodoa, near Nkawkaw, during a gas tanker explosion.
“Firemen are exposed to poisonous fumes, pungent toxic vapour and radiations while responding to emergencies at the peril of our lives; but God saves us in all these hence our gratitude to Him,” he said.
ACFO Eshun said in 2014 the region recorded 334 fire outbreaks at an estimated cost of GH¢24,022,503.00 as against 423 outbreaks in 2013.
Of the number, 166 cases were domestic, 24 industrial, 56 vehicular cases, 3 institution cases, 35 electrical, 14 commercial and 15 bush fires as well as 21 other cases.
According to the Regional Commander, the region also responded to 32 fatal accident cases in 2014 out of which 75 died 295 persons were injured.
Source: GhanaWeb
