Crime

GNFS records 624 fires in Dec. last year

 The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has indicat­ed that a total of 624 fires were recorded in December, 2022, nationwide, as against 567 fires in December, the previous year.

The statistics represent an increase of 10. 1 per cent in fires outbreaks recorded in December 2022 as against the same period last year.

The Director of Public Relations of the GNFS, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Timothy Osafo Affum, in a press statement issued and copied to the Ghanaian Times in Accra, said 210 and 531 out of the arrival cases were recorded respectively for De­cember, 2022 and December 2021, representing an increase of 37.3 per cent .

It said in the month of Novem­ber, 2022, 375 fires were recorded, and 226 fires between December 25 and 31, 2022, indicating steep rise of fires from November 2022 to December, 2022.

“Fortunately, there were no cau­salities in all these fires. However, 12 road traffic collision incidents re­sulted in 34 injuries and two deaths in the last seven days of December, 2022,” the statement said.

It said out of the total fires of 226 recorded for the last week in December 2022, 91 were domestic, 54 bush, 33 commercials, 24 vehic­ular,15 electronic installation, six crown reuse dump fires and three institutional fires.

The statement said there was a total of 55 out of the arrival cases, and that Ashanti region recorded the highest of 36, followed by Accra Region with 34 fires and Tema region with 33 fires and North-East Region recorded the least of three fires.

It said the increase in fire out­breaks in the last seven days of De­cember last year could be attributed to the carless use of electricity and electrical appliances, indiscriminate burning of rubbish, unattended cooking, fires emanating from gas leakage, misuse of naked lights such as lit candle and mosquito coils, im­proper storage of ware with limited ventilation and poorly maintained vehicles.

The statement assured the public that the GNFS would continue to take steps to prevent fires.

BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI

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