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Regional News of Monday, 16 March 2015

Source: Today Newspaper

Illegal connection cause of market fires - GNFS

Central Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), ACFO Robert Fiadzo, has disclosed that most of the market fire outbreaks the country has recorded in recent times are as a result of illegal electrical connection. He indicated that while most electrical wires in the various markets are not properly connected, most are also faulty and worn out thus igniting at the least opportunity.

He pointed out that the traders also often forget to attend to refuse they burn after sweeping, adding that the situation has also increased the rate of fire outbreaks in the country.

He has, therefore, called for the need to seek expert advice in the purchase of electrical gadgets in order to prevent future outbreaks.

ACFO Fiadzo made this known last week Friday during a stakeholders meeting about fire safety in Cape Coast.

The commander lamented that “we have never taken fire precautionary measures seriously in the country hence the occurrence of many fire outbreaks which could have been prevented.

“The only times “we remember there is an institution called GNFS is when properties which we have toiled to acquire over the years are burnt into ashes within seconds, minutes or hours right before our eyes,” he pointed out.

He noted that most people blatantly disregard or out of ignorance fail to comply with fire safety standards by the GNFS hence the increasing rate of fire outbreak in the country.

ACFO Fiadzo stated that from 2010 up to date the numbers of fire outbreaks keep increasing with 2012 recording the highest of 499 cases.

He indicated that 248 cases were recorded in 2010 while 317 cases were recorded in 2011. “497 cases were recorded in 2013 while 410 cases were recorded in 2014 with 141 cases recorded so far in the first quarter of this year,” he disclosed

According to him, it was in this direction that the stakeholders meeting was organised to re-educate the public on the LI 1724 which came into existence in 2003 for them to know the consequences of non-compliance.

He explained that the LI 1724 which empowers the GNFS to issue fire certificate to private and public institutions is geared towards the protections of the institutions and its occupants in case of fire outbreak.

He hinted that his outfit will dialogue about how best to handle filling stations that are turning into entertainment centres where people smoke since the scenario has the tendency to cause fire.

He added that a risk assessment audit will be carried out in all public institutions and national assets throughout the regions to ensure adherence to fire safety measures. Central Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of GNFS, ADO II Abdul Wasiu Hudu, noted that most often people tend to forget fire safety measures when beefing up security in their homes and other properties.

“We tend to employ the services of security personnel, dogs and what have you to keep our homes safe forgetting the most important one fire which can destroy all that we’ve toiled for within seconds” he stated.

He, therefore, advised the public to cultivate the habit of complying with fire safety measures such as the acquisition of fire extinguishers to be able to safe themselves and properties when fire breaks out.

ADO Hudu revealed that bushfire is the highest cause of fire which accounted for 70% of all fire outbreak in the region followed by domestic and road accident which accounted for 45 %and 21% respectively.