Ho, Sept. 28, GNA - Mr Alex Martels Hughes, the Volta Regional Fire Officer, said on Wednesday that only 42 per cent of personal belongings in homes are useful.

The rest, 58 per cent, only occupy space and serve to fuel accidental domestic fires.

Mr Hughes said he came to this conclusion following a survey he conducted in Ho and Cape Coast over a six-month period.

He said this at a staff durbar in honour of the visitng Acting Chief Fire Officer, Brigadier General John B.E Guyiri to the Region.

Mr Hughes said the survey also showed that about 91 per cent of residential homes have at least one or two damaged electrical appliances such as fridges, radios and television sets that many people are unable to discard.

He said the most interesting aspect in the survey was that many dresses kept in suit cases would never be worn until eternity yet many are holding on to them.

Mr Hughes therefore advised the public to “de-worm” their homes of unused items and develop safety exits in case of accidental domestic fires.