He said out of the number of cases recorded, 31 were domestic/structured fires as compared to 6 in 2017, while bushfires increased from 4 in 2017 to 22 in 2018.He said vehicular fire cases also increased from four in 2017 to ten in 2018; while accidents cases increased slightly from 29 in 2017 to 31 in 2018; and they attended to 9 false alarms in 2018.

DFO G.II Sakyi Owusu said 22 people died and 121 also sustained various degrees of injuries in both fire and vehicular incidents they responded.He said in 2018 no electrical fire outbreak was recorded against five in 2017, no gas fires was also recorded in 2018 compared to 10 cases in 2017, while zero institutional fire outbreak was recorded in 2018 against zero in 2017.

DFO G.II Sakyi Owusu recommended that all old electrical wires in various houses be replaced and offices and households should also acquire fire extinguishers.He assured public that they will continue to embark on their radio and visitation sensitization programmes on fire safety to help curb the emergence of fires.

He called on the public to ensure that their electrical gadgets are switched off and the plugs removed from sockets, before leaving the house and also to call the fire office promptly whenever a fire outbreak occurs.