By Afedzi Abdullah,GNA
Cape Coast, Jan. 30, GNA – Figures from the Central Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has revealed astronomical increases in the number of bush fires recorded in the region in year 2018.
A total of 201 bush fires representing about 100 percent increase over that of 2017 which was 94.
In all, 664 cases of fire outbreaks happened in 2018 as against 513 in 2017 with bushfire representing more than 30 percent of all cases of fire outbreaks.
Assistant Division Officer (ADO) II Abdul Wasiu Hudu, the Public Relations Officer, who made this known in an interview with the GNA described the situation as ‘very outrageous’ saying the figures were in contrast to the vigorous public education by the Service.
He said 196 of the cases recorded were domestic, 83 vehicular cases, and 45 electrical, while 62 were commercial with 44 industrial and institutional fires, 33 incidents of saw-dust, petroleum spillage, refuse and gas leakages.
He said 194 of the cases, representing 29 percent were put out before personnel of the Service could reach the scene.
Though there were no serious injuries from the bush fires, Mr Hudu urged farmers, hunters and herdsmen as well as residents to be more vigilant to avoid the outbreak of fires.
On education, he said a total of 383 fire safety education and 72 safety training sessions were carried out during the year under review.
He said the GNFS would intensify its public awareness campaigns and continue to institute fire safety response measures to respond swiftly and professionally in the advent of any incident.
He advised Ghanaians to take precautionary measures to prevent fire outbreaks saying many of the domestic fire outbreaks could be prevented if good measures were put in place and further advised the public to promptly call the Service during fire outbreaks.
GNA
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