Fire Outbreaks Cost B/A Huge Sums Of Money



Statistics from the Ghana National Fire Service in Bono-Ahafo indicates that fire outbreaks in the region cost nearly 3 Million Ghana Cedis in 2016.  

This represents  a doubling of the about 1 point 5 Million Ghana Cedis lost to fire in 2015. This was revealed by an Official of the Ghana National Fire Service, Acting Operations Officer, Ignatius N Noekor in an interview with Radio Ghana in Sunyani.

According to the statistics revealed by the Bono-Ahafo Operations Officer, fire outbreaks cost the region 2,839,374 Ghana Cedis, whiles in 2015 the region lost 1,539,930 Ghana Cedis to fire outbreaks. 

Giving records of fire outbreaks in the region, the Bono-Ahafo Acting Operations Officer, Ignatius Noekor said, the region recorded 209 Domestic fire outbreaks between January to December last year while 259 cases were recorded in 2015. 

He said there were 76 Road Traffic Accidents, which killed 103 and injured 204.  

In 2015 the Region recorded 79 accident cases with 187 injured and 21 dead. 

Mr. Noekor continued that bush fires were the main challenge as 230 cases were recorded in 2016.  

This is a major increase on the 160 bush fires recorded in 2015. 

Ignatius Noekor stressed that, the increase in RTA in the region is due to use of gas in vehicles originally designed to use diesel or petrol. 

He continued that, car owners and drivers get vehicles converted to use gas.  

An act he described as dangerous and urged drivers to desist from it. He also frowned on the fueling of commercial vehicles with passengers on board. 

He advised that commercial vehicles should be fueled before passengers get on board. 

He also urged fuel station staff to talk to the drivers on the danger of fueling while passengers on board.  

He also entreated them to do regular checks at the fuel station and engage the fire service regularly to prevent any mishap. 

Turning to the use of gas cylinders indoors in homes, he said condemned the practice and stressed that cylinder must be placed outdoors and the need to replace faulty regulators instead of resorting adjusting it with stones and other objects which could lead to explosion. 

Mr. Noekor added that, regular checks should be done on cylinders and regulators, emphasizing the need to change regulators regularly.  

Ignatius Noekor then entreated the public to switch off cylinders with the regulator and not just the knobs on the stove. 

He called for all electrical appliances be switched off when not in use, especially when people are leaving home.  

He also called for vigilance to prevent bush fires since the harmattan is still on.

GBC