Fire outbreaks in Tema Metropolis on the increase

Tema, March 2, GNA - Fire outbreaks in the Tema Metropolis increased=

from 239 in 2008 to 250 last year, Mr Gilford Adams, Tema Regional Fire Officer, told the GNA in an interview.

He attributed the increase to poor handling of naked lights by reside= nts coupled with the lack of adherence to fire safety education. Mr Adams said domestic fire outbreaks topped the list, increasing fr= om 91 in 2008 to 99 in 2009. Bush fires also increased from 31 in 2008, to 5= 3 last year. Vehicular, electrical installations and commercial fires witnessed reduction last year as compared to the 2008 figures. He said vehicular fires decreased from 35 in 2008 to 25 last year, electrical installations from 27 in 2008 to 25 in 2009, while commercial fires decreased from 31 to 25.

Turning to institutional fires, Mr Adams said Tema Region recorded n= o outbreak in 2008, as compared to as many as six outbreaks last year. Asked as to what had been the major causes of fire outbreaks in the Metropolis within the past five years, Mr Adams said they included overloading of sockets, improper wiring, faulty electrical accessories, improper handling of candles and mosquito coils, frequent and unannounced=

power outages and deliberate setting of bush fires.

While advising residents in the Metropolis not to store inflammable liquids in their homes, Mr Adams appealed to companies to employ the services of competent electricians to install cables in their premises. Mr Adams challenges facing his outfit in the region included inadequ= ate and obsolete fire and rescue appliances and protective clothing, sealed hydrants and lack of continuous flow of water for fire fighting. Others are lack of support for the creation of anti-bush and communit= y fire volunteers and inadequate office and residential accommodation for personnel.