The Northern Region has recorded one hundred and six (106) fire outbreaks in the first quarter of 2023. According to the Ghana National Fire Service, the figure is an improvement compared to the 167 fire incidents recorded same period in 2022.
The estimated cost of damage to properties amounted to GHS 898,385 as against GHS 1,257,760.2 for the same period in 2022. This is a decrease of 36.53% in fire outbreaks for the period under review.
On the other hand, the Northern Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service in its latest fire and related incident statistics report for 2022-2023 disclosed the cost of items salvaged from these fires amounted to GHS 18,946,131 for 2023 as against GHS 4,037,727 for the corresponding period in 2022.
This represents a 78.69% increase in items salvaged meaning that a lot more properties were saved from fire ruins compared with same period last year. The data also shows that on the average one fire was recorded in a day in the first quarter of 2023.
The Northern Regional GNFS Public Relations Officer, ADOII Hudu Baba, noted the number of out-before-arrival cases of 46 also suggests that the education and sensitization programs of the service in the region are impacting positively on the general public.
He added these positive results can be attributed to the aggressive sensitization campaign dubbed “Fire Safety Action Year” in both the media landscape and in all public spaces.
“The fires recorded suggest a significant downward trend. It decreased from 167 in 2022 to 106 in 2023 indicating a decrease of 61” he pointed.
Meanwhile, the GNFS has observed the public’s non-adherence to basic fire safety precautionary measures especially, in the domestic settings was a contributive factor in addition to the harsh harmattan weather experienced in the four months of the year.
ADOII Hudu Baba therefore advised the populace to make positive attitudinal changes with regards to the use of naked lights, gas, electricity and electrical appliances to avoid preventable fires.
