Yendi,(N/R), April 20, GNA - The Yendi District Assembly on Tuesday handed over a 188.5 million-cedi new office block to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) at a ceremony at Yendi.

The block comprises an appliance bay, a crew room, two offices, a watch room, accounts office, stores and bathroom with two toilets. Presenting the keys of the offices to Mr Atonio Agaadi, the GNFS District Officer, Alhaji Mahammad Habib Tijani, the acting Yendi District Chief Executive, said the assembly had provided the offices for the GNFS to enhance its services in the area.

He said the district was lucky to have the GNFS station that had been provided with qualified personnel and a fire tender. Alhaji Tijani assured the personnel of the GNFS that the assembly would always come to their aid whenever the need arises.

He urged the assembly members to support the formation of anti-fire volunteer squads in their communities to help stem the frequent outbreaks of fire.

Alhaji Tijani appealed to the GNFS personnel to educate the people in the district through workshops, seminars and open forums on fire fighting techniques.

Mr Agaadi thanked the district assembly and said between 2004 and 2005 the GNFS recorded 27 fire outbreaks in the area that caused extensive damage to property valued at 140 million cedis. He appealed traditional authorities, opinion leaders and NGOS to assist the GNFS in educating the people to curb bush burning that had caused damage to the environment.