The project seeks to reduce fire outbreaks in homes.

Launching the project, the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Alfred Ekow Gyan, observed that domestic fires resulted in deaths, injuries, and destruction of property.

Mr. Gyan said the GNFS is collaborating with stakeholders under the National Policy on Public Private Partnerships on Service Delivery.

Mr. Gyan noted that the establishment of new fire stations was not enough to curb the rate of fire outbreaks in the country, “the time has come for fire safety and prevention to be embraced in our homes as well.”

The Chief Fire Officer, Dr. Albert Brown Gaisie intimated that the project sought to protect the commercial values of both domestic and industrial property.

Dr. Gaisie said most fire outbreaks were as a result of careless handling of fires, and, that the GNFS could not work effectively without the collaboration of the citizenry.

The chief fire officer said some houses which were wired in 1930 had never seen any rewiring and the rewiring of such homes was overdue and needed immediate attention to avoid any disaster.

He asked “can Ghanaians continue to sleep with flammable liquids when they know these chemicals can explode anytime?”

The Western Regional Fire Officer, ACFO Obeng Dankwa Dwemena, disclosed that 243 fires were recorded in the region in 2014 out of which 107 occurred in homes representing 44 per cent.

He said there were 401 fire incidents in 2015, out of which 20 people suffered injuries and seven persons lost their lives, adding 161 were domestic fires representing 40 per cent.

ACFO Dwemena said in the first half of this year, 375 fires were reported of which 104 occurred in people’s homes indicating there was the need for more education on fire safety measures.

He appealed to individuals and organisations to support the GNFS to prevent the outbreak of fire.

 From Peter Gbambila, Takoradi.