Wa, Nov. 10, GNA - The Upper West Regional Directorate of the Ghana National Fire Service has outlined measures to reduce the incidence of bush fires in the region as the harmattan season approaches. Apart from the routine surveillance programmes, the directorate is also training fire volunteers in the districts and stations throughout the region.

Mr. Kakraba Bawa, Regional Commander of GNFS told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Wa on Wednesday that in Tumu alone, 79 volunteers were being trained to help fight bushfires in the area.

He appealed to District Assemblies, the District offices of National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and related agencies to assist his outfit to meet substantially reduce fire outbreaks particularly during the harmattan.

The regional commander commended the Department of Forestry Services, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, for their tremendous support in training more fire volunteers throughout the region. Mr Bawa gave the assurance that his office would support the volunteers adequately to carry out their work without any hindrance. He also promised to intensify educational programmes on domestic fires, adding that they were also gaining momentum in the region. He warned against the use of naked flames in houses particularly with the coming of strong winds in the region.