By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi, Dec. 29, GNA – Comparative report from January 01 to December 10, 2023, reveals that a total of 916 fire incidents were recorded in 2023 as compared to 1,058 in 2022 in the Ashanti Region.
This, according to the Ashanti Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), represents a 13.42 per cent reduction of cases in 2023.
A News release signed by Assistant Chief Fire Officer One (ACFO 1) Henry Fatai Giwah, the Regional Fire Commander and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the positive trend could be attributed to heightened public fire safety awareness campaigns and effective collaborative initiatives.
The release indicated that while there was an increase in estimated property damage costs from GH¢26,400,710.00 in 2022 to GH¢226,701,206.00 in 2023, the value of items salvaged surged to GH¢370,050,480.00, reflecting a significant increase as compared to GH34,231,245.00 in 2022 during the period under review.
A positive shift is noted in the number of fire-related deaths, decreasing from 15 in 2022 to nine in 2023.
The statement stressed that misuse of electricity, naked lights and electrical faults, gas leaks, unattended cooking, and other preventable and avoidable causes remained major contributors to the fires recorded in the Ashanti Region.
The Command assured its dedication to increasing public awareness and education on fire safety, enhancing training programmes, fostering collaboration with emergency response agencies, and expanding fire hydrant coverage with support from the Ghana Water Company Limited.
It entreated the public to switch off electrical equipment when not in use, avoid unattended cooking, overfilling LPG cylinders and get their gas leakages fixed.
They should also avoid indiscriminate bush and refuse to burn, avoid overloading electrical circuits to minimize the risk of fires and install smoke alarms on-premises to alert them of any fire situation to enable their quick and safe escape.
GNA