The Ghana National Fire Service in the Upper East Region has warned farmers against indiscriminate bush burning, cautioning that the practice is destroying farmlands, valuable tree species, and worsening soil degradation.
Divisional Officer Two Calistus Nibunu said the annual burning of farms, common during the dry season, often spreads beyond intended boundaries into nearby vegetation, destroying medicinal plants, food crops, and commercially valuable trees.
“Burning farms does not help,” he said. “Fertilizers have already affected soil fertility, and burning further damages the topsoil.”
He urged farmers to adopt safer and more sustainable land preparation methods to protect the environment and preserve soil quality.
Beyond agricultural practices, the Fire Service is also intensifying public education on domestic fire safety to reduce preventable household fires. Officer Nibunu advised residents to follow proper procedures when using gas cylinders, including removing regulator heads when not in use and ensuring cylinders are properly turned off after cooking.
He recommended that users ignite matches before turning on gas burners to prevent gas buildup and potential explosions. After cooking, he said, users should turn off the regulator and allow any remaining gas in the tube to burn off safely. He also warned against placing heavy objects on gas cylinders, which could damage them and increase the risk of accidents.
For households that rely on charcoal, he emphasized the need to fully extinguish fires and ash before disposal to prevent rekindling and accidental fires.
The Fire Service further advised residents to switch off electrical sockets and unplug appliances when leaving home, citing power fluctuations as a common cause of electrical fires.
Officer Nibunu encouraged the public to remain vigilant and report fire outbreaks promptly using the emergency line 0505929998.
The fire safety campaign forms part of ongoing efforts by the Ghana National Fire Service to reduce fire outbreaks while promoting environmental protection across the region.
He was speaking at the launch of the 2026 Environmental Care Campaign by the Church of Pentecost in the Upper East Region. The launch was hinged on the agenda, “My Environment, My Responsibility.” The campaign by the church is to create awareness of the importance of keeping a healthy environment while encouraging collective responsibility towards environmental stewardship.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Bolgatanga
