Property estimated at GH¢3,635,684.48 was destroyed as a result of fire outbreaks that occurred through domestic, industrial, as well as institutional and commercial fires in the Kumasi Metropolis last year.
Records available at the Ashanti Regional Fire Service Office in Kumasi indicate that in 2007, property estimated at GH¢4,135,598.7, was destroyed in the metropolis.
While the total number of fire outbreaks recorded in the Kumasi Metropolis in 2007 stood at 465, in 2008 it was 419, a slight reduction over that of 2007.
The Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO), Mr Obeng Dankwa Dwamena, who briefed the Daily Graphic on fire outbreaks, said domestic fires were predominant among fire outbreaks in the metropolis.
He pointed out that in 2007, for example, 253 domestic fire outbreaks were recorded out of 465 in the metropolis, adding that last year, 179 domestic fire outbreaks were also recorded out of a total of 419 fire outbreaks in the metropolis.
He pointed out that most fire outbreaks in the metropolis occurred between January and March each year.
He said while a total of 81 fire outbreaks were recorded in January 2007 and property estimated at GH¢406,415.00 was destroyed during the period, 73 fire outbreaks were recorded with property estimated at GH¢2,599,934.48 destroyed in the area in January last year.
He said in February 2007, a total of 38 fire outbreaks, which destroyed property worth GH¢160,710, were also recorded in Kumasi and at the same time last year, a total of 51 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in the metropolis with property estimated at GH¢122,560.00 being destroyed.
DCFO Dankwa Dwamena said in March 2007, property estimated at GH¢1,415,525.00 was destroyed through fire outbreaks, and that in the same period last year, 37 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in the metropolis, destroying property estimated at GH¢55,620.00.
He said commercial fire outbreaks, where property at markets and supermarkets among other places were totally or partially destroyed, had also taken centre stage in the Kumasi Metropolis, and explained that over the years, many businessmen and women had lost their capital and other valuables through such incidents.
Giving the statistics on the number of commercial fire outbreaks during the period under review, DCFO Dankwa Dwamena said in 2007, commercial fire outbreaks recorded in the Kumasi Metropolis were 53, but that increased to 75 cases last year.
He said industrial, vehicular, and bush fires had also undermined effective socio-economic development in the metropolis, explaining that in 2007, while 39 industrial fire outbreaks were recorded, a total of 38 vehicles were burnt to ashes that year with as many at 34 outbreaks of bush fires also being recorded.
He said last year, as many as 59 vehicles were burnt, while 39 industrial fire outbreaks were also recorded with bush fires recording 26 cases.
Expressing concern about the number of fire outbreaks in the metropolis and their effects on the economy, DCFO Dankwa Dwamena said they had intensified their campaigns on the effect of fire outbreaks as a way of creating awareness among the public to enable them to take preventive measures.
He pointed out that the psychological effect on victims who lost their property through fire was enormous and, therefore, urged the public to be proactive in instituting measures that would reduce fire outbreaks to the barest minimum.
He said his officers had been educating market women at the Kumasi Central Market and other satellite markets in the metropolis through the use of a public address system, to put off all electrical appliances any time they closed from the market.
He said they had also been interacting with pupils from basic schools in the metropolis on the safe use of electrical gadgets such as gas cookers, cylinders, irons and heaters and called on the public to report fire outbreaks on time to prevent the destruction of lives and property.
He said it was equally important for the public to actively support firemen whenever there were fire outbreaks and pointed out that in some cases, the public rather attacked some of their men, accusing them of arriving late at fire scenes.
DCFO Dankwa Dwamena explained that reports of fire outbreaks always received prompt attention, but on their way to put off the fire, officials of the GNFS sometimes encountered some obstacles.
He mentioned wrong addresses, late reporting of fire outbreaks by victims, especially when the fire outbreak was already out of hand; refusal of motorists to give way to fire engines when there were emergencies, and poor road network as some of the problems that always confronted his outfit.
He, however, gave the assurance that they would continue to educate the public on safety measures to adopt during fire outbreak.
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