Accra, Dec. 10, GNA - Available statistics by the Ghana National Fir= e Service (GNFS) indicates that about 2,200 fire outbreaks were recorded nation-wide between January to November this year. A total of 3,249 fire outbreaks were recorded within the same period= in 2008.

Mr. William Brown-Quaye, Chief Fire Officer, who announced this in Accra on Thursday, said this represented a reduction of 1,049 fire outbre= aks representing an impressive decrease of 19.26 per cent.

He was addressing the closing session of a two-day meeting for Directors and Regional Fire Officers on how to combat rampant fire outbre= aks in the country. The Chief Fire Officer urged the participants to liaise with other stakeholders, the Regional Coordinating Councils, Metropolitan, Municipal=

and District Assemblies as well as the opinion leaders for better public education on fire prevention. He appealed to all stakeholders to help equip the GNFS with the need= ed equipment and logistics to operate efficiently and effectively. Mr. Brown-Quaye said the management of GNFS was negotiating to purch= ase Aerial Appliance used in fighting and handling high-rise building fires therefore a meeting with owners of high-rise buildings had been scheduled=

for Accra on December 17.

He appealed to stakeholders, owners and tenants operating within the=

various high-rise buildings to make budgetary provision for the mutually beneficial investment. The Chief Fire Officer commended government for its pledge to resour= ce the GNFS and Regional Commanders for their initiative to repair some of their broken down fire tenders.