Just four days into the year 2015, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has recorded as many as 103 fire outbreaks nationwide from January 1 to 4.

The outbreaks, which happened in the wee days of the New Year, have been largely blamed on the harmattan season and negligence on the part of individuals towards fire safety.

The Greater Accra Region recorded 31 fire outbreaks; Ashanti, 41; Central, 10; Brong Ahafo, five; and Western, four.

The rest are Eastern, one; Volta, six; Northern, zero; Upper East, three; and Upper West, two.

The Deputy Public Relations Officer, Prince Billy Anaglate, expressed his outfit’s concern about the spate at which over 100 fires have been recorded in the New Year.

According to him, the GNFS was unhappy about how individuals were unconcerned about fire safety in the country despite the sensitisation campaign being held all over to educate the masses on how to avoid such avoidable fire outbreaks.

Mr Anaglate stated that during the harmattan period, the moisture in all combustible materials is reduced due to the dry winds, which in turn reduces the ignition temperatures of all these combustible materials.

According to him, the heat source which may not ignite these combustible materials previously because of the moisture may now decompose.

In his explanation, he stated that the process of decomposition results in burning, which could have been avoided by changing all brownish switches and sockets.

He stressed that the colour change in sockets and switches from white to brown was an indication that they need to be changed.

On the part of individuals, Mr Anaglate urged that attitudes be changed towards fire safety since fire safety is a shared responsibility.

The Deputy PRO said domestic fires were on the increase, indicating that people were not ensuring and adhering to caution.

He was happy that because of the power vested in GNFS to prosecute industries that do not adhere to fire safety regulations, industrial fires have reduced drastically.

He called on all individuals to do a fire audit and change old switches, sockets, and wirings.