The Upper East Regional Fire Service, Commander ACFO Douglas Koyiri, has cautioned Commercial Vehicle owners in the region to desist from turning fuel stations into lorry terminals.
He said the practice is dangerous and can cause fire outbreak.
The Commander expressed the concerns at his Pulling Out Ceremony in Bolgatanga.
More than seventy percent of fuel stations in the Bolgatanga Municipality use their premises to run transport businesses. Whilst selling their fuel to customers, mini buses are also stationed at their premises to pick passengers to their various destinations.
A typical example is Total 3 and Nasona fuel stations in the heart of Bolgatanga where mini buses are stationed transporting passengers to Tamale for more than two years now.
The practice is not only in the Bolgatanga Municipality but same is ongoing in Bawku Municipality and other district capitals in the region.
The move according to the Regional Fire Command is unacceptable.
In an interview with GBC’s Radio Ghana, the Outgoing Upper East Regional Fire Service Commander, ACFO Heroine Boakye, urged the Regional Fire Service Command and the Environmental Protection Agency to start fighting against drivers who turned fuel and gas stations to lorry terminals to help reduce fire outbreaks in the region.
ACFO Douglas Koyiri underscored the need for Fire officers across the country to be giving some training on how to tackle issues of terrorism.
Statistics from the Ghana National Fire Service, GNFS, has revealed that fire outbreaks in the Upper East Region reduced by 24 cases in 2018 as compared to cases recorded in 2017.
In spite of significant reduction in outbreak cases, fatalities were high during the period.
The region recorded 287 fire cases in 2018 with nine injuries and nine deaths as against 311 cases with three injuries and one death in 2017.
The statistics showed that cost of property destroyed in the fires during 2018 further declined as the region recorded GH¢ 31,050.00 as cost of damages and salvaged property estimated at about GH¢51,602.00 while in 2017 the region lost property worth GH¢ 84,450.00 and could salvage only GH¢ 1,350.00. There has not been any major fire outbreak this year.
