The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has reported a remarkable achievement in 2024, having saved properties valued at over GHC 550 million from fire destruction, a sharp increase from GHC 211.7 million recorded in 2023.
This feat, according to the Service, reflects improved fire management strategies and growing operational efficiency, even in the face of increasing fire incidents and logistical challenges.
A comparative analysis of fire and emergency incidents between January and December 2023 and 2024 reveals a mixed trend, with significant gains in public safety outcomes, but also a clear signal for sustained investment in emergency preparedness and response.
Fire incidents rose from 5,973 in 2023 to 6,436 in 2024—an increase of 7.8%. The GNFS attributes this uptick largely to harsh weather conditions in early 2024 and general non-compliance with basic fire safety measures. Despite this, the value of property salvaged surged by 159.8%, while damage costs also climbed to GHC 270.3 million in 2024 from GHC 177.9 million in 2023, representing a 51.9% rise.
Greater Accra emerged as the region with the highest number of recorded fires (1,309), followed by Ashanti (1,145) and Eastern (648), while the North East Region had the lowest with just 16 cases.
The major causes of fire incidents remained consistent, including electrical faults, gas leakages, indiscriminate burning of refuse and bushes, and misuse of naked flames. Also noted were lightning-related incidents, carelessness, and acts of negligence or arson.
The analysis of fire types showed nuanced changes. Domestic fires dropped slightly by 3%, now accounting for 38.5% of total cases in 2024.
Bushfires and electrical installation fires saw marginal increases, while commercial fires, institutional fires, and other fire categories experienced minimal shifts. Notably, industrial and vehicular fire rates remained unchanged.
The report also recorded a rise in Out-On-Arrival (OOA) fire cases—incidents that were already extinguished before GNFS arrival—rising to 2,066 in 2024, representing 32.1% of all cases. This improvement is credited to ongoing public fire safety education campaigns, which the Service intends to intensify with the aim of achieving a 60% OOA rate.
There were improvements in human safety metrics. Fire-related deaths fell from 27 in 2023 to 25 in 2024, while injuries dropped dramatically by 50%—from 108 to 54. Similarly, road traffic collision (RTC)-related deaths decreased by 15.7%, from 2,839 in 2023 to 2,394 in 2024, and other rescue-related deaths and injuries also saw substantial reductions.
However, the report flagged a slight rise in RTC-related injuries—from 274 in 2023 to 280 in 2024—highlighting the need for sustained efforts in road safety education and response enhancement.
Other rescue operations, such as structural collapses, bee attacks, and entrapments, reduced by 13.8% from 188 cases in 2023 to 162 in 2024. Injuries and fatalities in these operations also saw notable declines, affirming the GNFS’s increased competence in diverse emergency response scenarios.
According to the Service, the sharp rise in salvage value and reduced casualties underline the positive impact of public fire education and efficient firefighting.
However, the increase in damage costs calls for a renewed push to retool the Service with modern equipment, expand fire station coverage, and ensure each station is well-equipped to meet international response time standards.
As part of its commitment to public safety, the GNFS announced plans to intensify fire safety inspections across public and private facilities and train more community fire volunteers, especially in rural areas prone to bushfires. The Service also aims to foster alternative livelihoods—like snail farming and beekeeping—to curb pressures on forests and reduce fire risks.
In collaboration with the National Road Safety Authority, the GNFS will also roll out targeted road safety education campaigns aimed at improving public compliance with emergency siren alerts and preventing road crashes.
The GNFS has called on the public to adhere strictly to fire safety protocols and partner with the Service in safeguarding lives, property, and the environment. With intensified education, better logistics, and a united front, the Service believes it can drive down fire incidents and related casualties even further in the coming years.
