Agona's 15 fire outbreaks kill two people last year

Agona Swedru, Jan. 04, GNA- A total of 15 fire outbreaks were recorded in the Agona District of the Central Region last year as against 26 in the 2006, the District Commander of the Ghana Fire Service Mr Alfred A. Acheampong has said.

He said two people died in the 15 cases recorded whilst property worth 3.9 billion cedis were destroyed and 1.5 billion cedis in 2006. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview on Thursday at Agona Swedru, Mr Acheampong said the figures reduced last year due to intensification of the educational programmes embarked upon by the District Fire Command on fire safety and prevention. He urged the management of hotels, restaurants stores, shops, schools, gas and petrol filling stations to acquire fire extinguishers and certificates at their premises to ensure control of fire outbreaks. The District Fire Commander advised managers of the various companies to take insurance cover against fire and other natural disasters in order to stop putting much pressure on the government and State institutions for financial assistance.

Mr. Acheampong said measures have been put in place to train members and staff of the churches and corporate bodies in the district on fire prevention and safety, adding that communities should call at the District Command for the training of fire volunteers. He said, now that the District has been elevated to a Municipality, the work load would be increased and called on the people to assist with both money and logistics to enable the fire personnel to work effectively. The District Fire Commander warned that because of the prevailing dry season, shop owners, chop bar operators, petrol and gas filing stations, farmers and group hunters who set fire in search of animals should be circumspect in their activities to avert more fire outbreaks this year.