The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Ashanti region says it is challenged in its swift response to distress calls due to malfunctioning and worn out fire tenders.

The life span of a fire tender is between 5 and 7 years, but most tenders at fire stations in the region have exceeded their lifespan, making them unreliable.

Regional Public Relations Officer, DO III Peter Addai says occasionally, the vehicles break down in the middle of emergency calls.

“There are fire tenders that are over 10 years old in our system. Today, they may be up and running, the next day there is an emergency, you start it and it doesn’t run. Per our standard operating procedure, when you experience something like that, you dispatch to the nearest station to respond,” he told Luv Fm.

There are currently 21 fire tenders serving 43 districts in the Ashanti Region.

Mr. Peter Addai described the shortfall as a big challenge, colloborating concerns raised by some residents.

Per international standards, it should take 5 minutes to get to a fire scene.

However, it takes 12 to 20 minutes for the fire service to reach a fire scene in the Ashanti region.

“If you look at the prevailing situation in Ghana, we have had cases where we did 12 minutes. Considering some of the distances we have to travel, there are times we do over 20 minutes. For instance, the Offinso fire station covers all the way to Akomadan Afrancho. From Offinso to somewhere like Nkenknasu, you will be doing close to one hour,” he revealed.

The service also laments the inadequacy of road traffic tools and appropriate personal protective equipment needed in fighting fires.

Officials are compelled to improvise by sharing personnel protective gear.

“We don’t have one-fireman-one-PPE now. The PPE on the tender, we have to share. What you use today, another crew comes on duty and uses it tomorrow. They wash them. The ideal situation is, every man must have his own personal gear. We are entreating the government to get us more,” he pleaded.

Road traffic tools used in rescuing accident victims are seldom found in fire stations in the region.

Fire officials have had to rely on mechanics or residents for equipment in rescuing accidents victims from mangled vehicles.