The Gomoa West District branch of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has initiated a month-long programme, to train fire volunteer squads to help combat bush fires during the coming dry season.

The training will also cover the prevention and fighting of domestic fire outbreaks.

To ensure the total success of the programme, Chiefs and Assembly Members in the area have been tasked to organize anti-bus fire volunteer groups in towns and villages within the district, for the immediate take-off of the training.

Mr. Holatious Kofi Ackah, Gomoa West District Fire Safety Officer, announced this at this year’s Annual Akwambokese Festival of the chiefs and people of Gomoa-Ajumako.

He assured people in the district that fire service workers in the area were prepared to give them the best teachings on both domestic and bush fire prevention, adding, however, that much would depend on the way and manner they handled naked fire and electrical appliances in their farms and their homes during the dry season.

Mr Ackah cautioned individuals and group hunters, palm wine tappers, smokers, and farmers in the district, against the indiscriminate setting of bush fires, such as the throwing of pieces of cigarettes on the roadside.

The District Fire Safety Officer appealed to chiefs, religious leaders, assembly members, and leaders of the various organized groups in the district, to help sensitize the people seriously at their various weekly meetings on the dangers domestic and bush fire outbreaks posed to their homes, farms, and communities.

Mr. Ackah cautioned that anyone caught setting fire indiscriminately would be made to face the full rigours of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

Obrempong Nyanful Krampah Eleventh, Omanhene of the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area, charged chiefs, queen-mothers, religious leaders, teachers, and assembly members, to take the message seriously.

He asked them to endeavour to educate the people on the need to handle properly naked fires as well as electrical gadgets, to help reduce the outbreak of bush fires in the area.