Fire tenders in Ghana have a maximum carrying capacity of water for three minutes work to extinguish raging fires, failing which multi-billion properties will be reduced to ashes. As if that is not enough, the tenders can only fight fires no higher than five floors, thus owners of high rise buildings without fire defensive devices may conveniently count the fire service out in times of outbreaks. Following Wednesday’s inferno which left the once busy Foreign Affairs Ministry in Accra a desolate edifice, fire personnel have been at the receiving end of bitter castigations, just as during other times when there have been outbreaks. Accra Regional Fire Commander, Kru Agyarko Atubra told Joy News’ Sammy Darko that the professional competence of the service personnel cannot be questioned, but the lack of modern fire fighting devices has been their bane. “We have been trained. We are professionals, but then no matter your training, the skills or your expertise, if you don’t have the right type of tools to work with no one can appreciate what you can do.” He said their tenders can only manage 800 gallons of water which can fight fire for only 3 minutes. The capacity needed to fight the magnitude of fires such as gutted the Foreign Affairs Ministry, he said is 2,000 gallons. “Other than that, 800 when we go there, in two minutes everything is exhausted we have to pull out and go and replenish and come. That is why when you journalists see us, you say we went there without water in the tender. “No professional fire fighter will go to a fire scene without water, but the capacity we have is only 800,” he lamented. He also expressed grave concern over the sky scrappers that seem to be springing up in the capital. "I will advise that these scrappers should “incorporate risers, sprinklers, and drenchers. These are fire defensive devices which should be built into the building. Unfortunately government, ministries, department and agencies don’t have them.” Following a meeting with President John Mills Thursday morning, the Fire Service has been promised a new tender capable of extinguishing fire on the 20th floor of any building. Meanwhile, workers of the Foreign Ministry have been asked to stay at home whilst government look for alternative office accommodation. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the fire fighter's voice Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana