Fire outbreaks in the Northern Region caused an estimated GH¢159 million worth of damage in 2025, according to the Ghana National Fire Service, marking a sharp increase in losses despite only a marginal rise in the number of incidents recorded.
The Service said 377 fires were recorded between January and December 2025, up slightly from 373 cases in 2024, but the financial impact more than doubled compared to the GH¢ 68.2 million recorded the previous year. Regional Public Relations Officer of the Fire Service, Assistant Divisional Officer Grade I Hudu Baba, described the figures as alarming.
“A four-case increase may look insignificant on paper, but the cost implication tells a much bigger story,” ADOI Hudu Baba said. “We lost far more in terms of property value in 2025, and that should be a serious concern for households, businesses and developers.”
Despite the losses, the Fire Service said improved response and public awareness helped save more property. Items salvaged from fires in 2025 were valued at about GH¢150.6 billion, compared to about GH¢1.02 billion in 2024. “This shows that when people respond quickly and apply basic fire safety knowledge, a lot can still be saved,” he noted.
Two people died through fire incidents in the region during the year. However, no deaths were recorded from flooding, deep rescues, bee invasions or height-related emergencies. On road traffic collisions, the region recorded one injury and two deaths from four incidents in 2025, a reduction from 2024 figures.
The Service recorded 145 out before arrival cases in 2025, slightly higher than the 143 recorded in 2024. January and December were the most fire-prone months, recording 65 and 52 cases respectively. Domestic fires dominated with 148 cases, followed by commercial and electrical fires with 54 cases each.
ADOI Hudu Baba said fires involving uncompleted buildings remain a worrying trend, particularly in new settlements. “We recorded 17 fires in uncompleted buildings in 2025, and these are properties yet to be occupied by their owners. Most of these losses are completely preventable,” he said.
He attributed most of the fires to electrical faults such as overloaded circuits and poor wiring, gas leakages, unattended cooking, lit candles, mosquito coils, careless disposal of cigarette butts, unsafe welding activities, bush burning and deliberate acts. He added that harsh harmattan conditions and non-adherence to basic fire safety precautions contributed to the increase.
Beyond fires, the Service raised alarm over widespread abuse of its emergency lines. The Northern Regional Command recorded 67,200 prank emergency calls in 2025, including 1,400 in a single week. “Some days, we received over 100 prank calls,” ADOI Hudu Baba said. “Every prank call blocks our lines and delays our response to real emergencies where lives and property are at stake.”
The Fire Service has appealed to the public to stop pranking emergency numbers 191 and 112 and to adopt safer attitudes towards the use of electricity, gas and naked lights. According to ADOI Hudu Baba, the Command will intensify public education in 2026, including a One Fire Officer One School campaign aimed at strengthening fire safety awareness among students and staff by the end of the first quarter.
Source: www.kumasimail.com/Noah Nash Hoenyefia
