Fifty Seven died in fire in the first haf of the year

FIFTY-SEVEN people lost their lives in 3,077 fire incidents recorded across the country between January and June, this year.  The figure represents an average of four deaths and 522 fires monthly with financial loss amounting to GH¢2.83 million monthly.
A further breakdown of the figures  indicate that at least 128 fires occurred weekly with a life lost and GH¢700,000 lost.
The data, released by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNSF), gave the breakdown as 1,116 domestic, 110 industrial, 367 vehicular and 58 institutional fires, while 274 were attributed to electrical faults.
Commercial fires accounted for 281, with bushfires and others resulting in a total of 871.
The Ashanti Region topped the list with 697 fire incidents, followed by the Brong Ahafo Region, 468; Greater Accra Region, 370; Eastern Region, 290 and Western Region, 266.
The rest are Central Region, 233; Tema, 184; Northern Region, 166; Upper East Region, 125; Upper West Region, 98 and the Volta Region, 55.

Market Fires
Speaking in an interview on measures adopted to reduce the rampant fire outbreaks in the markets of late, the acting Head of Public Relations of the GNFS, Mr Ellis Robinson Okoe said fire personnel had been deployed to the various markets to monitor the activities of traders.
The personnel, who would be on guard at the various markets in groups of between four and five, were also to educate the traders on fire safety, he said.
Mr Okoe said sensitisation and simulation programmes were also being held for traders and other institutions on fire safety.
To ensure effective results, he underscored the need for city authorities to also implement recommendations made by the service.
Key findings from investigation
Mr Okoe said a report by an audit and investigation team indicated that the markets were congested.
He explained that different items were mixed up and sold at the same places making it difficult for fire personnel to extinguish fires because of the mixture of chemicals and other items.  
Other key findings in the report, he said were that aged wiring of the markets, illegal connections, power outages, unprofessional way of wiring, faulty electrical wires, over loading of electrical power, cooking in the markets and negative human behavioural attitudes, caused most of the fires.
Mr Okoe added that most people had a very bad attitude towards the use of electrical appliances which they did not put off after use, hence leading to overheating, among other causes of fire.

Recommendations 
He said the report recommended to the local assemblies to implement and enforce guidelines that had been adopted for the protection of markets against fire outbreaks.
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Okoe said, adopted 13 guidelines as part of its measures to curb fire outbreaks in the metropolis.
He also called on the city authorities to collaborate with the Fire Service to establish fire posts at the various markets.
“The markets need to be rebuilt into modern ones by the city authorities in consultation with the Fire Service and not to be left for the traders to build,” he said.
In addition, he said the markets should be decongested and planned well to make them accessible for fire personnel in the event of fire outbreaks.
“As the city authorities collected tax from the traders, they should be able to re-wire the markets and also collaborate effectively with the Electricity Company of Ghana to check illegal connections,” he added.