By: Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY
The Western Regional office of Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has recorded 26 incidents of fire outbreaks as at the first quarter of 2025.
In 2024, the Service experienced 39 fire outbreaks.
“Last year and in the first quarter, fire cases were mostly caused by bush fires. This tells us that bush fire cases are rising early this year, at a rate which is very disturbing,” ACOP David Asaah Darko, Western Regional Fire Commander, told B&FT in an interview.
He said there have also been fire problems at some markets and, though there has been education on radio and at some market centres, it seems people are not adhering to rules at the market.
Usually, he explained, bush fires are caused by hunters and palm wine tappers. “Yesterday, for instance, there was a fire outbreak at the Ghana National Gas Company at Atuabo – caused by palm wine tappers – and a staff member was injured. Smoke from the bush fire caused him to become unconscious and he was sent to hospital, where oxygen was administered. He is currently stable.”
The bush fires, ACOP Darko said, is growing at an alarming rate and urged the media to support in educating the public about its effects on property.
“Most of the time, these farmers practice slash and burn. Recently, we inaugurated fire volunteer squads at Elubo who are also on the ground educating rural folk on the need to be careful when they burn their bush,” he added.
On the way forward, he said: “Cooking at the various markets should be stopped, illegal electricity connections must not be encouraged because they cause havoc when it rains; lanes and walkways should visible to enable us walk through when there is a fire outbreak”.
He assured that: “We are conducting market patrols and intensifying our education to ensure that there are no fire outbreaks at the market”.
Madam Veronica Arthur, Secretary-Takoradi Market Queens Association said: “Though there was a fire outbreak at the market a few years ago, food vendors have been given up to 4 p.m. to quench their fires before leaving.
“We still go round to ensure that they abide by the market’s rules. We do not allow anyone to use gas in cooking – only coal pots, which are must be placed on a concrete area,” she explained.
