Koforidua: The Eastern Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has reported a relative increase of 24.8 percent in fire outbreaks, including Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) in 2024, compared to 2023. Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Timothy Osafo-Affum, the Eastern Regional Commander of the GNFS, shared these details while addressing the Ghana News Agency, noting that the region responded to a total of 876 incidents in 2024.
According to Ghana News Agency, the record included 749 fire outbreaks, marking an increase from 600 cases in 2023, alongside 127 Road Traffic Collisions in 2024, compared to 118 in the previous year. ACFO Osafo-Affum attributed the rise in fire outbreaks to rampant bush burning and emphasized that the Service would intensify fire safety activities. These activities include bush fire prevention education, volunteer training, auditing of high-risk premises, public fire safety education, and enforcement.
ACFO Osafo-Affum also highlighted that the Regional Command plans to reinforce fire safety regulations to ensure public protection. A committee has been established to ensure compliance with the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1724, Fire Precautions (Premises) Regulations, as amended in L.I. 2249.
Additionally, the region is in the process of forming two specialized teams: a Firefighting Team and a Rescue Team. These teams aim to ensure that no incident or emergency exceeds the capabilities of the Regional Command, as stated by ACFO Osafo-Affum.
