The Ashanti Regional office of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has disclosed that 125 fire cases have been recorded in the first month of 2026.

Regional Public Relations Officer, DOII Peter Addai, revealed on Nhyira FM's "Kro Yi Mu Nsem" morning show that the region has seen a decrease in fire outbreak cases in January 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.

He noted that as of January 30, 2026, the region had recorded 125 fire cases, a drop from the 187 cases recorded in January 2025.

"Even though we have a day to end the month, it is evident there has been a reduction in fire outbreaks, but let's not get complacent; we've still got to do more to curb these incidents in the region," he said.

Mr Addai, however, noted that there have been more high-profile fire outbreaks in January 2026 compared to January 2025.

"We've recorded three high-profile fire outbreaks in the region, and it's a clear warning sign that we need to ramp up our efforts to prevent such incidents from happening."

DOII Peter Addai says preventing fires from occurring is a top priority for the fire service, given the potentially catastrophic consequences, which include loss of life and property damage.

He stressed that fire can be a good servant but a bad master.

He emphasised that if Ghanaians use fire responsibly, it'll be beneficial, but if it gets out of control, it will cause massive destruction.

He mentioned that the Fire Service is intensifying awareness campaigns and also introduced a new strategy, deploying personnel to monitor hotspots and fire-prone areas around the clock.

He said investigations point to negligence as a major factor driving up fire incidents.

He stated that investigations have revealed that negligence is one of the primary factors contributing to the rising number of fire incidents, emphasising the need for increased vigilance and caution.

He gave an example of a Sofoline mechanic shop fire incident, where preliminary investigations suggest an unknown person was burning rubbish, which likely sparked the fire.

He stressed this was negligence, noting fire service officials repeatedly advised people to let waste collectors handle rubbish disposal.

"But if you're burning rubbish, stay put and make sure it's all burnt to ashes before you leave the area," he added.