The Ashanti region recorded 1,043 fire outbreaks in 2019 as against the 1,066 recorded the previous year, figures from the Ghana National Fires Service have shown.
But fire officers are concerned about the spate of domestic fire outbreaks in the first month of 2020. The region has already recorded 71 fire outbreaks in the first week of 2020
Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Desmond Ackah, told 3news.com that they have intensified public sensitization.
The total cost of properties damaged by fire outbreaks recorded in 2018 is estimated at over 21.6 million cedis as against that of 2019 which stood at over 11.5 million cedis.
Assistant Divisional officer (ADO) Desmond Ackah said domestic fires ranked first in the fires recorded, followed by industrial fires, bush fires and vehicular fires.
“Domestic fires continue to top the list of fires recorded in 2018 and 2019 although the figures went down in 2019. We recorded 419 domestic fires in 2019 a drop from 457 in 2018,” he said.
ADO Ackah noted that public sensitization on extinguishing fires is also going down well as 88 cases of fire outbreaks were quenched by the time the fire fighters got there.
The Fire Service is worried about the fire outbreaks recorded in the first week of 2020 which stands at 71.
“It is worrying to say that for the first week of 2020 we have so far recorded 71 fire outbreak with majority being domestic fires and bush fires. Going forward, the Service is going to enforce the LI 2249 which mandates house owners and estate developers to put measures in place to protect their premises,” he said.
House owners and estate developers have to acquire smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, signages and also educated on how to handle small fires in their homes and premises
ADO Ackah mentioned that the Command has intensified its dawn broadcast, surveillance and patrols in markets with the Market Task force to help educate the traders against actions that might cause fire outbreaks.
By Beatrice Spio-Garbrah|3news.com|Ghana