Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 1st April '99

A total of 198 fire outbreaks destroyed property worth about 1.8 billion cedis in the Ashanti Region between January and February this year. In the Kumasi metropolis alone, there were 147 fire outbreaks and property valued at about 848.6 million cedis were destroyed during the period. The bush fire at Atonsuagya in the Sekyere West District this year where property and foodstuffs worth about one billion cedis were destroyed, was the severest single fire outbreak during the period. Mr Albert Brown Gaisie, Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, said at a press conference to launch a fire preventive campaign, code-named "Operation Prevent All Fires" in the region in Kumasi on Wednesday. The campaign, which will begin on Thursday, April one, is aimed at introducing fire safety principles and practices in institutions, organisations, offices and the self-employed artisans like welders, bakers and house helps. Mr Gaisie, who is also Deputy Chief Fire Officer, said domestic fires accounted for the highest. In a breakdown, he said 64 domestic fires, 27 industrial fires, 14 bush fires and 11 vehicular fires were recorded. There were nine outbreaks, which were caused by electrical faults affecting institutions and business houses and 11 others. The major causes of fire outbreaks are the old and illegal electrical wiring and sheer human negligence. The campaign would, therefore, educate the public on measures to be instituted to reduce fire outbreaks, the Deputy Chief Fire officer added. The metropolis has been divided into five zones for the campaign. A consortium of the utility service providers would hold a round table conference on how best they can co-ordinate their efforts to prevent fire outbreaks. They include Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC) and Ghana Telecom, district assemblies and National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO),