The Nkoranza north fire service commander, DO III Helen Akalansi has waged war on all bushfires suspects as we get closer to the severe harmattan season. The divisional fire officer grade III noted that Nkoranza North in the Bono East region is one of the highest areas noted for bushfires.
From 2020 to 2022, the Nkoranza north fire station recorded, 79 fire outbreaks with 13 domestic fires. In 2020, a farmer in the area lost her life in a bushfire. Many farms including cash crops like cocoa and cashew were being destroyed by the bushfires, costing millions of cedis.
The Nkoranza North district fire officer, Helen Akalansi, and her men have put several measures in place to curb fire outbreaks in the area through community fire volunteers. The secret of reducing the number of fire disasters in the district from 35 in 2020 to 19 in 2022 was the use of community information centers and FM stations.
The fire service of Yefiri surprise visits to bush and farms had helped to reduce the fire outbreaks by 45% in 3 years period.
The major challenge for the 21 fire officers at Yefiri is the means of transport and accommodation. During an emergency situation, they hire pick up to visit the scene as their rescue van cant ply the bush roads. Motorbikes will be a great help to visiting farms during the harmattan seasons.
The Nkoranza north district fire commander, DO III Helen Akalansi has signalled a strong warning that any person or group of persons found with a match or lighter in the bush will face prosecution without delay. She pleaded with the communities to help in the fight against the bushfires outbreaks in the district.
