The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has saved over GH¢94 million worth of properties from being ravaged by fire between January and July this year.

They are made of residential buildings, industrial properties and other public facilities.

This highlights the GNFS’ improved fire management strategies and the growing efficiency in preventing extensive damage despite its numerous operational challenges.

The cost of damage also decreased significantly from GH¢120 million last year to GH¢89 million this year, indicating a 26.5 per cent reduction.

Statistics

Details of statistics made available to the Daily Graphic indicate that 3,889 fires were recorded from January to July, 2024, as against 3,819 fires for the same period in 2023, leading to a modest rise of about 1.83 per cent.

The modest rise in fire incidents was mainly due to harsh weather conditions and widespread non-compliance with basic fire safety protocols during the first quarter of this year.

The major causes of the fire during the period were electrical faults from misuse of electricity and appliances, gas leakages from improper use of LPG stoves and cylinders, indiscriminate burning of refuse and bushes, misuse of naked lights such as mosquito coils, candles, lighters and matches, lightning effects as well as deliberate acts.

During the periods, the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions recorded the highest number of fires with 712 incidents, followed by the Eastern Region with 429 fires, and the Central Region with 390 fires. The North East Region had the lowest number with 23 fires.

Decrease

Comparing this year’s data to the same period last year, domestic fires decreased by 3.33 per cent from 1,476 in 2023 to 1,427  last year, with commercial fires also decreasing by 4.86 per cent from 638 last year to 607. Industrial fires decreased by 13.33 per cent from 15 to 13 while vehicular fires decreased by 9.36 per cent from 363 to 329.

Bushfires also increased by 9.5 per cent, from 559 last year to 612 this year. Fire-related deaths also decreased from 18 in 2023 to 12 in 2024, representing a 33.33 per cent reduction, while fire-related injuries decreased from 90 to 30, representing a 66.67 per cent reduction.

Effective emergency response

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Deputy National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the GNFS,  Divisional Officer III (DO III), Desmond Essoun Ackah, said the positive trends in decreased fatalities and injuries across fire incidents and other rescues reflected the GNFS’ effective implementation of safety measures and emergency response strategies.

Those improvements, he said, had not only enhanced public safety but also streamlined the service’s operations, allowing for more efficient resource allocation and better management of emergency situations.

Assurance

He gave an assurance of the service’s commitment to intensifying public fire safety campaigns through traditional and social media, focusing on residential areas, lorry stations, market centres and institutions.

Also, he said fire safety audits and inspections would be intensified in public and private commercial premises to identify fire hazards and proffer mitigation measures to minimise the risks associated with those hazards.

He said the service was collaborating with the National Road Safety Authority and other relevant institutions through an intensified road safety education to enhance respect for sirens of emergency vehicles, and minimise or prevent road crashes with their attendant deaths and injuries.

DO III Ackah urged the public to adhere to the basic fire safety protocols being promoted by the service to prevent incidents and protect lives, property and the environment.