KUMASI FIRE DESTROYED GH¢954,312 WORTH OF PROPERTY (PAGE 47)

Property estimated at GH¢954,312.00 were burnt to ashes within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs between January and April this year as against GH¢3,125,784.48 recorded during the same period in 2008.
Records available at the Kumasi office of the National Fire Service indicates that a total of 190 individual cases of fire outbreaks were recorded within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs during the period as against 198 recorded last year.
The estimated cost of property burnt to ashes this year and the total number of fire outbreaks recorded excluded the recent fire outbreak that engulfed a section of the Kumasi Central Market last week.
Personnel of the Fire Service are still investigating the estimated cost of property burnt to ashes at the Kumasi Central Market, which burnt about 400 structures.
The Deputy Chief Fire Officer in charge of the region, Mr Obeng Dankwa Dwamena, who briefed the Daily Graphic on the incidents of fire outbreaks in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, pointed out that three people lost their lives during the fire outbreaks this year.
Mr Dwamena explained that in January this year, a total of 70 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in Kumasi as against 73 cases recorded last year, stressing that while property estimated at GH¢145,480 were burnt to ashes in January this year, those that were totally destroyed through fire outbreaks during the same period last year were estimated at GH¢2,599,934.48
He said a total of 43 cases of fire outbreak were also recorded in Kumasi in February this year as against 51 cases last year, explaining that, while an estimated property lost through fire outbreaks in February this year was GH¢252,221.00, that of February last year was GH¢122,560.00.
He said while 48 cases of fire outbreaks and an estimated property lost of GH¢237,110 were recorded in March this year, 37 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in March last year.
The Ashanti Regional Fire Officer also stated that property lost in March last year through fire outbreaks also dropped to GH¢55,620.00.
Comparing the recorded number of fire outbreaks for April 2008 and this year, Mr Dankwa Dwamena said the recorded figure increased from 29 cases and an estimated property lost of GH¢319,501.00 in April last year to a total figure of 37 cases of fire outbreaks and an estimated property lost of GH¢347,670.00 in April this year.
Expressing concern about the quantum of fire outbreaks in the metropolis and its environs, he said it was time the public collaborated effectively with personnel of the Fire Service in providing early information and accurate direction of areas on fire to reduce the destruction of lives and property lost through fire outbreaks.
He pointed out that many of the fire outbreaks in the Kumasi metropolis were domestic related, explaining that while 81 domestic fire outbreaks were recorded between January and April last year, 76 domestic fire outbreaks were recorded during the same period this
year.
He pointed out that commercial fire outbreaks, where trading and other business transactions took place, came next after domestic fire, explaining that 34 commercial fire outbreaks were recorded between January and April this year as against 40 recorded during the same period last year.
He said while 15 vehicles were also burnt to ashes last year during the period under review, 26 vehicles suffered similar fate this year.
He mentioned industrial fire outbreaks, institutional and bush fires, among others, as other problems that had been recurring over the years.
Mr Dankwa Dwamena said as part of the measures to reduce the upsurge of fire outbreaks, he had initiated educational campaigns in basic schools where pupils were not only educated on the dangers of fire outbreaks but were also educated on what to do in case there was a fire outbreak.