The provision of the facilities formed part of the expansion programme of the GNFS to ensure that the service was adequately resourced to drastically help reduce the outbreak of fires in deprived areas of the country, particularly during the dry season.

The fire stations are located at Fumbisi in the Builsa South district,Sandema in the Builsa North district, Chiana and Paga in the Kassena Nankana West district, Tongo in the Talensi district and the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) depot in Bolgatanga. The others are located at Zuarungu, near Bolgatanga and Navrongo in the Kassena Nankana municipality.

Inaugurating the facilities,the Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Dr Albert Gaisie, noted that the provision and expansion of fire safety equipment was the topmost priority of every government as it helped to protect human life and property, including key government installations.

He announced that the GNFS had taken delivery of more than 24 fire engines which would be distributed across the various regions of the country, including the Upper East Region.

Dr Gaisie further intimated that 41 per cent of total fire outbreaks that occurred in the country were domestic fires and that was why the fire service personnel were being resourced to be able to educate the public, including women, to reduce further the domestic fire outbreaks.

He explained further that the GNFS was collaborating with the Ministry of Education to come out with a syllabus on fire education for school children, saying, "We want to be proactive to ensure that every citizen of this country has adequate knowledge on how to prevent fire outbreaks."

Personnel

Dr Gaisie also used the occasion to charge fire personnel to avoid acts that would bring the name of the GNFS into disrepute.

He equally advised them to embark on massive anti-fire outbreak campaigns in the rural communities to prevent fire outbreaks as the nation prepared for the December polls.

Dr Gaisie further cautioned the personnel to be professional and be fair to everybody who needed the help of the GNFS, saying, "Fire does not know who belongs to party A or party B, hence you must be fair in offering your services to everybody."

The CFO who was accompanied by his deputies, also called on the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Albert Abongo, and some chiefs, including the Paramount Chiefs of Builsa and Chiana, Nab Azagzuk Azantilow II and Chiana Pio, Pe Ditundini Adiali Ayagitam III respectively.

The CFO later inspected the Bongo Fire Station to round off his three-day visit to the region.