By Isaac Arkoh, GNA
Cape Coast, Jan 06, GNA – Bushfires registered the highest number of fire outbreaks in the Central Region, jumping from 104 in 2024 to 147 in 2025, marking an increase of 41.35 per cent.
According to the regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), it recorded a total of 703 fire incidents in 2025, up from 658 in 2024, representing a six percent increase.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Merinder Mary Attigah-Mensah noted that domestic fires, previously the leading cause had changed this year.
She said vehicular fires rose from 59 to 76, and electrical fires increased from 63 to 67 over the same period.
However, she mentioned that industrial fires dropped drastically by 58.3 percent, from 12 in 2024 to five in 2025.
Additionally, commercial fires decreased from 113 to 107, institutional fires slumped from 36 to 30, but refuse fires rose marginally from 15 to 17.
She mentioned many causes including faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, substandard electrical materials, power surges and illegal connections, which sparked many incidents in homes and workplaces.
Others are cooking and heating hazards like unattended stoves, grease build-up, naked flames from gas cookers or candles and space heaters near flammables in kitchens frequently ignite and is ranked as top global household causes.
The environmental triggers include arson, cigarettes, poor appliance maintenance such as dryers, environmental factors such as high winds or dry weather that aid the spread as well as negligence causing industrial or vehicular fires.
The Central Regional GNFS Commander declared 2026 the “Year of Action,” to curb fire incidents.
The Command will deploy all available fire safety mechanisms to significantly reduce occurrences across the region.
Although intensified fire safety education and inspections had stalled the rise in domestic fires while reducing industrial and institutional ones, she said the GNFS would not ease up on enforcing safety standards.
She urged the public to apply fire safety mechanisms taught them during engagement sessions.
She also highlighted regional measures to protect markets, including allocating spaces for market fire posts to provide 24-hour protection for facilities.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey Kenneth Odeng Adade