Northern Region records 373 fire cases in 2024

A total of 373 fire cases were recorded in the Northern Region last year resulting in the damages to property estimated at GH¢68,127,224.

This figure was an increase over the cases recorded in the year 2023, which stood at 312 fire cases resulting in damages to property estimated at GH¢13,640,496.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Northern Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), signed by Assistant Divisional Ocer Grade two (ADOII) Mr Baba Hudu, Northern Regional Public Relations Ocer of the GNFS, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale.

The statement said items worth GH¢1,024,438 were saved as against GH¢35,700,444 for the same period in 2023.

It said while no life was lost through the fire cases, 20 injuries were recorded.

It said the months of January and December recorded the highest incidents of 59 and 72 fire cases representing six per cent and 18%, respectively.

It said the region, over the period, had experienced a new trend of re that ravaged uncompleted buildings, especially at new settlements.

The statement said, “Some of the causes of these res were electrical faults, which stemmed from circuit overload, arcing, short circuit, inferior cables, compromised or poorly done electrical installations, over-aged wires and earthing problems; gas leakages, unattended cooking, lit candles, mosquito coils, and other deliberate acts.”

It called on the public to make positive changes in their attitude regarding the use of naked lights, gas cooking apparatus and electrical appliances to forestall preventable fires.

It also cautioned the public to avoid making false fire alarms.