Nkoranza (B/A) Jan. 22, GNA - The famous Buabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, a popular tourist centre, was nearly destroyed by fire on Tuesday but for the timely intervention by some firemen and volunteers. It took six firemen, 15 fire volunteers and some youth about four hours to bring the raging fire, which was threatening to enter the sanctuary, under control. Mr. Joseph Tahiru, Nkoranza District Operational Fire Officer, commended the fire volunteers and the youth for their efforts, as well as an unidentified resident who alerted the fire station by phone. He said however, that the fire could have been put off within an hour, but for lack of a water pump on the fire tender as this made them to travel to fetch water from River Fia, about 20 kilometres away. "We could have put off the fire in about an hour's time if we had such a water pump as we could have fetched water from any near-by stream", he stated.

Mr. Tahiru said four firemen would be stationed at Busunya, the Nkoranza North District capital, to monitor the activities of the people in the communities to forestall the re-occurrence of bushfires. The fire officer reminded the public that the ban on group hunting was still in force and recalcitrant groups would be arrested and prosecuted.

He called on the catchment communities to prepare fire belts to protect the sanctuary from being destroyed by fire. Mr. Tahiru called on traditional authorities, Assembly Members and Unit Committees to support and encourage the local fire volunteers in combating bushfires and appealed for the provision of a water pump for the Nkoranza fire station.