Kumasi, Dec. 16, GNA - Ashanti region recorded a total of 572 fire outbreaks within the past 11 months, the Regional Fire Officer, Mr Philip=

Aheng-Mensah, has said.

He put the value of property lost to the fires at GH¢2,254,878.80. During the same period, there were also 63 road accidents, which claimed 27 lives and left 76 others with various degrees of injury. Mr Aheng-Mensah was speaking at a durbar, organized in honour of act= ing the Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) Albert Brown Gaisie, in Kumasi. He was in Ashanti for a two-day official tour to interact with personnel of the Ghana National Fire Services (GNFS) and to learn at firs= t hand their operational challenges and how to address them. The Regional Fire Officer said they have intensified fire safety education, visiting market places, churches, schools and industries to he= lp prevent fires.

He complained about the lack of Fire Tenders and other fire-fighting=

equipment and said this was affecting operational efficiency. Mr Gaisie expressed concern about the increasing fire outbreaks in t= he region, particularly at the markets, leading to the loss of investments. He encouraged personnel of the service to do more to help prevent th= e fires, adding that, they should also ensure high standards of professionalism to win public support. The acting Chief Fire Officer gave the assurance that the service wo= uld soon receive more Fire Tenders and other equipment to enhance its operati= on. Mr Gaisie spoke of plans to focus on periodic training programmes to=

sharpen the skills of the personnel. 16 Dec. 10