Mr Kwabena Taah Korang, Tema Deputy Regional Fire Officer, has stressed the need for residents to be conscious on outbreak of fires and adhere strictly to safety rules and regulations to reduce outbreaks of fires within the Municipality. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Tema on Monday, Mr Korang said from January to June this year, 164 fires were recorded compared to 122 within the same period last year. Mr Korang said fire outbreaks within Tema Township increased from 74 between January to June last year to 103 during the same period this year. He said Tema Industrial Area alone recorded 15 fire outbreaks during the first half of 2007 as against three fire outbreaks during the same period in 2006. He said there had been reduction in fire outbreaks within the industrial area due to compliance by industries to obtain Fire Certificates to ensure accepted fire safety measures in public and residential accommodations, factories, shops and offices. Mr Korang said fire outbreaks within the Municipality were domestic, vehicular or industrial. He attributed domestic fire outbreaks to illegal connection of electrical sources of energy, overloading of electrical sockets and misuse of naked lights like candles, mosquito coils and incense. Mr Korang said over-adjusted brakes resulting in friction or overheating between the drum and brake bands, poor conditions of electrical wires, and faulty fuel pumps or pipes resulting in leakage of flammable liquid onto hot exhaust manifolds were the main causes of vehicular fire outbreaks. He noted that lack of adequate fire protection measures, underrating of electrical wires resulting in overheating, storage of heat absorbent materials in poorly ventilated places, and storage of flammable fuel near sources of ignition were some of the causes of fire outbreaks in industries. Mr Korang said some of the problems encountered by fire personnel during emergency situations were unavailability of effective and efficient fire hydrants and lack of proper identification of streets and houses. Others were some drivers refusing to give way to fire engines, poor accessibility to areas of fire outbreaks, late calls to report fire outbreaks and unnecessary interference in operations of fire personnel by the public. Mr Korang therefore, urged the public to co-operate with personnel of the Service in the performance of their duties to deal with fire outbreaks.Source: GNA