The Agona District Command of the Ghana Fire Service would as from 20th September 2007, clamp down on commercial establishments which do not have fire certificates and other safety measures. The ultimatum, followed the failure of the institutions and corporate bodies to acquire fire certificates and extinguishers at their premises to fight fires when it out breaks. Mr Alfred A. Acheampong, District Fire Commander who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Agona Swedru on Saturday said after the deadline, premises of those who had not complied with the law would be closed down. He mentioned banks, petrol filling stations, super markets and other public places as those who must comply with the law. He said the managers and owners of defaulting commercial houses would be arraigned before the law courts. Mr Acheampong said some hotels, petrol filling stations and restaurants in the area collected fire certificate forms but had not returned them to the command to be certified. The District Fire Commander said the law also enjoined churches, schools and other religious bodies to acquire fire certificates and extinguishers. He said from January to September this year, 10 fire outbreaks had been recorded as against 17 of last year and that properties destroyed amounted to millions of cedis. Mr Acheampong noted that notwithstanding the low cases of fire outbreaks, the District Command would continue educating the public on fire prevention as well as the formation of fire volunteers in the various communities in the area. Source: GNA