Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, Chairman of Fire Service Council, on Friday announced that the Government has acquired 260 acres of land at Dodowa to build a modern Fire Academy and Training College for the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS). He said the facility will be capable of training 500 fire personnel from other West African countries. Alhaji Sorogho, who made this known at the passing out ceremony of 42 recruits of the GNFS in Accra, said the Government was committed to solving problems such as inadequate accommodation and vehicles facing the Service to improve the working conditions of the personnel. He said 57 Pick-up vehicles, ten motorbikes and two buses would be procured for the GNFS by the end of this year and added that fire fighting vehicles and equipment have started arriving in the Country to help expand the capacity of the GNFS in terms of its operational effectiveness and efficiency. Alhaji Sorogho, who is also the Member of Parliament for Madina/Abokobi, advised the recruits to accept posting to any part of the country. He said last year, the GNFS recorded 2,601 fire outbreaks and cost of damaged properties estimated at GH360,027,775.57 as compared to 1,572 fire outbreaks with cost of damaged properties estimated at GHC 2,237,239 as at September this year. Alhaji Sorogho said: “Even though there has been a reduction in figures which may be attributed to intensified public fire safely education and also engagements with the public, we still believe the Fire Service could do more to ensure further decline in subsequent years.”