Tema, Jan 15, GNA - The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Tema Region recorded a one-point-five percent increase in fire cases in 2007, handling 277 fire outbreaks over 273 in 2006. The Tema Region covers the Tema Municipality, Tema Industrial Area, Ashaiman, Dodowa and Ada.

Mr Paul Enyonam Tamakloe, Tema Regional Fire Officer who gave the data to the Ghana News Agency at Tema, said three persons lost their lives and properties worth over 50,000 Ghana Cedis were destroyed. Out of the total fire outbreaks, the Tema Municipality recorded the highest of 215 while Ada recorded no incident at all through out the whole of last year.

The Regional Fire Officer gave the categories of the fire outbreaks as domestic, electrical, vehicular, commercial, industrial, bush and institutional.

Mr Tamakloe said despite the numerous fire safety educations organized last year, domestic fires topped the data with 98 while the service recorded no institutional fire. He attributed the cause of the domestic fires to the power crises as explaining that households resorted to the use of candles and mosquito coils during the period.

Careless attendance to gas cylinders also contributed greatly to domestic fires. Mr Tamakloe advised gas users to change the rubber seal inside the cylinder valve every three months as it causes the leakage of gas when it shrinks.

He added that the cylinders should be kept outside the kitchen and its tubes regularly changed to avoid the development of breaks in them.