Ho, Feb. 12, GNA - A total of 149 fires were recorded in the Volta Region in 2004, with three dead and estimated cost of property lost put at about 2.6 billion cedis.

Mr Joy Agbleze, Divisional Officer responsible for public relations at the Regional Directorate of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Ho on Friday. He gave a breakdown of categories as bushfires 71, electrical 11, domestic 59, vehicular 8.

Mr Agbleze said the three casualties were victims of vehicular fires. He blamed domestic fires on negligence in the use of gas stoves and naked lamps such as candles.

Mr Agbleze said electrical fires were largely due to poor wiring of homes and overloading of electrical circuits.

He condemned the practice among people to engage the services of unqualified technicians to wire their home and later contrive to get contract forms duly signed by certified electrical technicians to enable them to have power connected to their homes.

Mr Agbleze expressed concern about fire incident figures for the first few weeks of this year and cautioned the general public to be vigilant and report people who deliberately start bush fires for prosecution. He said 53 huts were destroyed at Todome-Yiborkope, three charred to death at Anfoega-Wadamexe, 1000 matured broilers killed and 5 million cedis cash lost at Sokode-Klikpota and about 30 million cedis worth of foodstuffs heaped awaiting transportation were ravaged at Logba in recent cases of bush fires in the region.