The Ashanti region unit of the Ghana National Fire Service has disclosed 15 persons died of fire cases in 2022 as compared to the ten in 2021.
The figure shows a sharp increase of five over ten recorded in 2021.
The affected victims included both the young and old with one of them being a 76-year-old retired staff of the Ghana Audit Service whose five-bedroom apartment was razed down by fire in 2022.
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Bush fires that were recorded in the region in 2021 increased from 61 to 197 as at the end of the year 2022, citing bad weather, naked fire for game hunting and others as the reason for the increase.
The region recorded a total of 1,132 wild fire cases from January to December last year with 431 of them occurring in residential accommodations.
However, in 2021, 1,111 cases were recorded in the region out of which 470 were domestic .
Speaking in an interview with the media in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, ACFO Henry Giwah, pointed out that, even though 2022 saw marginal reduction in the domestic fires compared to the previous year, as many as 15 people of the affected houses burnt were trapped to death as against 10 in similar situations in the year 2021.
He expressed serious concern about the situation and also advised private residential facility owners or developers to seek professional guidance about the most appropriate safety and security measures to put in place during construction.
He stated that, despite their numerous education at markets, on the media and other places, fire cases are always on the increase and appealed to the people to support them reduce fire cases.
He observed that, despite the situation being a major cause of concern, private developers continue to provide unsafe protective systems when developing their residential properties with only burglars or thieves in mind without regard for their own safety during emergencies.
He called on the people to install smoke detectors in their houses to save the situation in terms of emergencies.
So far, the region has recorded 98 fire outbreaks from January 1 to date.
He promised that they would continue with fire education this year to reduce the fire cases.
By Benjamin Aidoo|AkomaFM|Onuaonline.com
