About GHC86 million worth of properties were lost to fires across the country between January and September 2016, figures from the Ghana National Fire Service reveals.

Public Relations Officer of the Service, Prince Billy Anglete said despite the decline in fire outbreaks from 6,214 last year to 4,373 this year, the cost of items damaged has increased by more 50 per cent.

Every year, Ghana records high losses as a result of fire disasters. Critical sectors of the nation’s economy and infrastructure are consumed by fire leaving in their trail huge economic losses to individuals and the nation at large.

The number of reported fire cases this year is 4,373 against last year’s 6214, but the cost of items damaged has increased from GHC28, 282,081 in 2015 to GHC85, 916, 355 in 2016.

Thirty-one per cent and 18 per cent of the cases occurred between greater Accra and Ashanti regions respectively.

A total of 1, 365 representing 31per cent of the cases were domestic.

Mr Billy Anglete said though 90 percent of the outbreaks recorded were controllable, distress calls were not received on time, noting calls came when the fires had reached uncontrolled stages.

There are fears more fire outbreaks could occur, especially during the Christmas and New Year festivities when fire outbreaks are common.

This, the Fire Service says, is as a result of the harmattan, which is associated with dryness and wind.

The harmattan haze with extremely dry dusty wind blows from the Sahara toward the western coast of Africa. Mr Anglete has thus urged Ghanaians to be extra cautious when handling with anything involving fire.