The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has announced significant gains in fire safety and emergency response for the first quarter of 2026.
It indicated that fire incidents dropped by 10 percent and fire-related deaths reduced by more than half compared to the same period in 2025.
According to the Service, injuries also fell sharply by 62.8 percent, while prank calls to emergency lines decreased by 17.8 percent.
“The period recorded significant positive indicators: fire incidents decreased by 10.02%, fire-related deaths dropped by 53.5%, fire-related injuries dropped by 62.79%, bushfires reduced by 10.2%, and prank calls decreased by 17.8%,” said DO II Desmond E. Ackah, Head of Public Relations in the statement.
These improvements, officials say, reflect the growing impact of public fire safety education and enhanced response strategies nationwide.
In the statement, the GNFS noted that between January and March 2026, it salvaged properties valued at GH₵479,457,385, a remarkable 217 percent increase from the GH₵151 million recorded in 2025.
Although the cost of damage rose by 28.7 percent to GH₵215 million, the Service emphasized that the surge in salvaged property demonstrates improved fire management and preservation of assets.
It adds that Out-on-Arrival (OOA) cases also rose to 651 from 558, underscoring community readiness to contain fires before firefighters arrive.
Regional data showed Greater Accra leading with 377 fire incidents, followed by Ashanti with 337 and Central with 184. Oti Region recorded the least with only 21 cases.
Domestic fires accounted for the largest share, rising to 42.9 percent of total incidents, while bushfires saw a sharp decline from 562 in 2025 to 209 in 2026. Other categories such as vehicular, institutional, and industrial fires recorded slight increases.
The GNFS reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying public fire safety campaigns, conducting audits of commercial premises, and training community fire volunteers to identify hazards and proffer mitigation measures.
It also pledged closer collaboration with the National Road Safety Authority to address the alarming rise in traffic accidents.
The Service urges the public to adhere to basic fire safety protocols to protect lives, property, and the environment.
Full Statement
FIRES, PRANK CALLS AND FIRE-RELATED DEATHS DECLINE; OVER GH₵470M PROPERTY SALVAGED IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2026
Accra, Ghana – April 21, 2026
Period of Comparative Report: January to March 2025 & 2026
INTRODUCTION
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is pleased to announce remarkable achievements in fire safety and emergency response for the first quarter of 2026. The period recorded significant positive indicators: fire incidents decreased by 10.02%, fire-related deaths dropped by 53.5%, fire-related injuries dropped by 62.79%, bushfires reduced by 10.2%, and prank calls decreased by 17.8%. Additionally, Out-on-Arrival (OOA) cases increased to 651 from 558 in 2025 representing 32%, demonstrating improved community preparedness and effective response by section of the public in handling fires before they escalate and before firefighters arrive at the scene, while the value of salvaged properties surged to an impressive GHȻ 479,457,385.00 from GHȻ 151, 026,471.40 representing an increase of 217.47%. These achievements highlight the GNFS’s effective fire safety measures, rapid response capabilities, and the growing impact of public fire safety education across the country.
This report provides insights into recent trends and the effectiveness of ongoing fire safety initiatives.
MAJOR FIRE CAUSES
Major fire causes recorded during the period under review included:
1. Electrical faults from misuse of electricity and appliances;
2. Unattended cooking and Gas leakages from improper use of LPG stoves and cylinders;
3. Indiscriminate burning of refuse and bushes;
4. Misuse of naked lights such as lit mosquito coils, candles, lighters, and matches;
5. Lightning effects and deliberate acts.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
1. Reduction in Fire Incidents: The number of fire incidents recorded from January to March 2026 decreased by 206 representing 10.02% compared to the same period in 2025. This significant decline, from 2,261 incidents in 2025 to 2,055 in 2026, demonstrates the effectiveness of enhanced fire prevention strategies and improved public compliance with fire safety regulations.
2. Cost Analysis:
a. The cost of salvaged properties increased significantly to GHȻ 479,457,385.00 in 2026, up by 217.5% from GHȻ 151,026,571.40 in 2025. This remarkable rise reflects GNFS’s improved fire management strategies and the growing efficiency in preventing extensive damage despite its numerous operational challenges.
b. Conversely, the cost of damage increased to GHȻ 215,479,467.00 in 2026 from GHȻ 167,383,392.00 in 2025, an increase of 28.7%. Despite this rise, the substantial increase in salvaged property value demonstrates the GNFS’s enhanced effectiveness in property preservation.
3. Regional Fire Trend: The Greater Accra Region recorded the highest number of fires with 377 incidents, followed by the Ashanti Region with 337 fires, and Central Region followed in the third place with 184 fires. Oti Region recorded the least number of fire incidents with only 21 cases, demonstrating effective local fire prevention measures and community vigilance.
4. Types of Fires: Comparing the data for January to March 2025 and 2026:
a. Domestic Fires: Increased from 770 (34.1%) in 2025 to 881(42.9%) in 2026.
c. Commercial Fires: Increased from 339 (15%) in 2025 to 350 (17%) in 2026.
b. Bushfires: Decreased from 562 (24.9%) in 2025 to 209 (10.2%) in 2026.
d. Electrical Installation Fires: Decreased from 217 (9.8%) in 2025 to 200 (9.7%) in 2026.
e. Vehicular Fires: Increased from 159 (7.12%) in 2025 to 176 (8.6%) in 2026.
f. Institutional Fires: Increased from 69 (3.1%) in 2025 to 85 (4.1%) in 2026.
g. Other Fires (crown and refuse dump fires): Increased from 139 (6.3%) in 2025 to 145 (7.1%) in 2026.
h. Industrial Fires: Increased from 6 (0.3%) in 2025 to 9(0.4%) in 2026.
5. Out-On-Arrival (OOA) Fire Cases: The number of Out-On-Arrival (OOA) fire cases increased from 558 (24.7%) in 2025 to 651 (32%) in 2026. This significant increase reflects the growing readiness and effectiveness of community members in managing fires before they escalate. This trend highlights the success of public fire safety education programs, which have empowered individuals to handle fires at their early stages, contributing to the successful salvage of properties worth over GHC 470 million. The essence of this trend is that enhanced public awareness and proactive fire management are crucial in minimizing damage and supporting the GNFS’s efforts in protecting lives and property.
6. Fire-Related Deaths: This decreased from 15 in 2025 to 7 in 2026, representing a 53.5% reduction. The decrease in fire-related deaths highlights improvements in fire safety measures and emergency response. The lower fatality rate suggests that public safety education and effective fire prevention strategies have contributed to reducing the loss of life during fire incidents.
7. Fire-Related Injuries: This decreased from 43 in 2025 to 16 in 2026, representing a 62.8% reduction. This significant decrease in injuries underscores the effectiveness of enhanced fire safety protocols and timely interventions. Fewer injuries reflect better preventive measures and quicker emergency response by both the public and the GNFS.
8. Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) Cases: This increased from 144 in 2025 to 211 in 2026, representing a 46.53% increase. The rise in RTC cases indicates growing challenges in road safety and underscores the need for intensified road safety education and enforcement. This trend places additional strain on emergency services and highlights the importance of collaborative efforts with road safety institutions to reduce traffic accidents.
9. RTC-Related Deaths: This increased from 86 in 2025 to 130 in 2026, representing a 51.2% increase. The rise in RTC deaths is a concerning trend that reflects the need for improved road safety measures and faster emergency response. This increase emphasizes the urgency of enhanced road safety campaigns and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to protect lives on Ghana’s roads.
10. RTC-Related Injuries: This increased from 500 in 2025 to 932 in 2026, representing an 86.4% increase. The significant rise in RTC-related injuries indicates deteriorating road safety conditions and the need for comprehensive road safety interventions. This trend contributes to higher overall injury rates and underscores the GNFS’s expanding role in managing traffic accident emergencies and providing critical medical assistance.
11. Other Rescues: (such as bee attacks, structural collapse, leg entrapment in metal or concrete slabs on gutters, rescue from heights, etc.) increased from 42 in 2025 to 92 in 2026, representing a 119.05% increase. The rise in other rescue incidents suggests an increase in complex emergencies, possibly due to infrastructure challenges and environmental factors. This increase requires the GNFS to allocate more resources and enhance specialized rescue capabilities to effectively respond to diverse emergency situations.
12. Other Rescue-Related Injuries: This increased from 26 in 2025 to 31 in 2026, representing a 19.23% increase. The rise in injuries from rescue operations reflects the growing complexity and frequency of rescue scenarios. It indicates the need for enhanced safety protocols and specialized training for rescue personnel to minimize risks associated with diverse rescue operations.
13. Other Rescue-Related Deaths: increased from 7 in 2025 to 16 in 2026, representing a 128.57% increase. The rise in deaths during rescue operations highlights the critical nature of these emergencies and the need for improved safety measures and faster response times. This trend underscores the importance of public education on preventing situations that require complex rescue interventions.
14. Prank Calls: Prank calls decreased from 132,770 in 2025 to 109,179 in 2026, representing a 17.8% reduction (23,591 fewer calls). This significant decrease reflects improved public awareness about the serious nature of emergency lines and the consequences of frivolous calls. The reduction allows the GNFS to focus resources on genuine emergencies and improves response times to actual incidents.
Overall Assessment: The positive trends in decreased fire-related fatalities and injuries, alongside the substantial increase in salvaged property value, reflect the GNFS’s effective implementation of fire safety measures and emergency response strategies. However, the increases in RTC cases, deaths, injuries, and other rescue operations present new challenges that require intensified collaboration with relevant stakeholders. These improvements in fire safety not only enhance public safety but also streamline GNFS operations, allowing for more efficient resource allocation and better management of emergency situations.
ESSENCE OF THE CHANGES
The rise in salvage costs alongside the increase in damage costs reflects the growing value of properties at risk and the GNFS’s improved fire management strategies in preserving increasingly valuable assets. The trend in Out on arrival (OOA) cases underscores the positive impact of fire safety education and community preparedness, which have been crucial in reducing overall damage and preserving property. However, the increases in RTC incidents and rescue operations highlight emerging challenges that require comprehensive multi-sectoral interventions.
COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY
1. The GNFS is committed to intensifying public fire safety campaigns through traditional and social media, focusing on residential areas, lorry stations, market centers, and institutions.
2. Fire safety audits and inspections will be intensified in public and private commercial premises to identify fire hazards and proffer mitigation measures to minimize the risks associated with these fire hazards.
3. More community Fire Volunteers will be trained and motivated to prevent and control bushfires through the adaptation of climate resilience strategies such as creating fire belts around farmlands and plantations, encouraging early or control burning and promotion of alternative livelihood empowerment programs such as snail and grass cutter raising, mushroom farming, keeping of bees, etc., in order to ease the pressure on the forests and natural vegetation.
4. Management will collaborate with the National Road Safety Authority and other relevant Institutions via intensified road safety education to enhance respect for sirens of emergency vehicles, and minimize and/or prevent road crashes with their attendant deaths and injuries.
5. Management urges the public to adhere to the basic fire safety protocols being churned out by the Service to prevent incidents and protect lives, property, and the environment.
6. The GNFS remains dedicated to advancing fire safety education and improving response strategies to protect lives, properties, and the environment effectively.
-END-
SIGNED
DO II DESMOND E. ACKAH
HEAD OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
GHANA NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE
NOTE TO EDITORS
