Regional News of Friday, 5 January 2007

Source: GNA

Market women, shop owners and farmers warn against fire

outbreak

Agona Swedru, Jan 5, GNA- Mr Alfred Adjepong Acheampong, Agona District Fire Commander, has warned market women and farmers to guard against fire outbreak during the dry season. Mr Acheampong was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Agona Swedru in reaction to rampant fire

outbreak in some parts of the country. He cautioned market women, shop owners, hotels and restaurants to switch off all electrical gadgets at the close of work to avoid fire outbreak.

The District Commander told GNA that a workshop would soon be organised at the Swedru Central Market for women, hoteliers, restaurants and shop owners to educate them on prevention.

Mr Acheampong advised the people to repair their gas cylinders since leaking ones could cause a catastrophe and asked them not use lanterns to light their gas stoves to ensure sfety.

He warned people living in wooden and other makeshift

homes to be extra careful in handling fire. Mr Acheampong said about 500 fire volunteers would be

trained in ten towns in the district and reactivate existing ones

to educate farmers and palm tapers on the need to avoid bush

fires. He cautioned group hunters, cigarette smokers and rate

chasers to desist from setting fire during their expedition. The Fire Officer said that the district had taken delivery of a

new Fire-Tender from Cape Coast and urged the people to

report fire outbreaks.