The Central Regional Fire Service Commander, ACFOI Merinda Mary Attigah Mensah has expressed alarm over the rising number of fire outbreaks in the region, citing it as a major concern.

The rampant occurrence which has led to the significant loss of properties and businesses, has propelled the Regional Fire Command to organize a sensitization campaign for traders in the Central Region.

The program held in Cape Coast at the Kotokuraba Market on Wednesday, 18th, March, 2026, saw a quiz competition between traders from the region's big market centres like Kasoa, Mankessim and the Kotokuraba market to test their prowess on basic fire safety mechanisms.

ACFOI Merinda Attigah Mensah in an interview with Sompa TV's Eric Annan shortly after program, she noted that the action was necessary for the traders to be informed on the basics needed for quenching fire outbreaks, particularly at market centres.

The Regional Fire Service Commander addressed that "we are by this campaign training our traders on how to use first aid such as fire extinguisher to put off fire outbreaks before the fire service is contacted to the scene, since fire gut has lately turned to be problematic, particularly in Kasoa," she bemoaned.

Hon. George Justice Arthur, Mayor for the Cape Coast Metropolis, having graced the event couldn't hide his joy over the initiative but took to the occasion to encourage the traders to well embrace the knowledge shared by the fire service by putting the impacted knowledge into practice.

"I'm moved by today's program by the Regional Fire Service Command and will urge the traders to clasp the information given them to be very vital to their work."

Queen Mother of the Cape Coast Kotokuraba Market, Nana Araba Akyere also highlighted that fire is a home raker, judging its tendancy of destroying one's hard earned property. Thus, eulogized that the campaign will help effect change and awareness on how to treat fire when it occurs as traders.

On proactive measures put in place to check fire outburst in the market, she recounted that in the Kotokuraba Market, no one allowed to put on naked fire since such activity is banned by the market leadership.

Sompaonline.com//Eric Annan