Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), ADO1 Alex King Nartey, has reacted to a viral video showing a driver’s mate cooking jollof rice inside a moving truck.
The video captures the driver’s mate preparing food inside the moving vehicle, apparently using an LPG cylinder and cooking utensils while the truck is on the road.
While the viral video has attracted amusement and commentary online, the GNFS PRO raised serious concerns about the fire risks associated with such practices.
According to him, firefighters responding to truck fires often discover LPG cylinders and other cooking equipment inside the vehicles. In some cases, he said, the quantity of equipment is enough to operate a small chop bar.
He explained that having an LPG cylinder with an active flame inside a moving vehicle, alongside combustible materials, petrol or diesel and engine oil, creates a potentially dangerous combination that could result in a fire or explosion.
Nartey also noted that such practices do not only endanger the driver and passengers but could put other road users and firefighters at risk when an incident occurs.
He believes roadworthiness and vehicle safety checks should pay greater attention to dangerous or inappropriate items being carried in commercial trucks, particularly those that can significantly increase fire risks.
He urged the public and commercial vehicle operators to take fire safety seriously and prevent avoidable hazards before firefighters are called to respond.
