GNFS to deal with Fumbisi Rice Valley fires

The Upper East Regional Directorate of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has initiated a number of measures to help deal with the annual recurrence of bush fires in the Fumbisi Rice Valley.

The Fumbisi Rice Valley which is located in the Builsa North District of the Upper East Region is one of the biggest rice valleys in the country.

The rice valley records high incidences of fire outbreaks which often destroys huge acres of rice farms.

Speaking to the GNA in Bolgatanga, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Douglas Koyire, the new Regional Fire Commander, said part of his vision for the region was to help curb the annual fire outbreaks.

“As part of the measures to help deal with the challenge, the Regional Directorate of the Ghana National Fire Service in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Builsa South District Assembly will soon initiate the “Operation, harvest your rice within two or three months”, he said.

He said the GNFS apart from establishing its Station at Fumbisi, also had plans to train more fire fighters and empower the farmers on how to create fire belts to prevent fires from spreading.

The Regional Commander said that the Fumbisi Rice Valley has the greatest potential to contribute significantly in feeding the nation and appealed to the Municipal and District Chief Executives of the catchment areas and Non-Governmental Organizations to help the Service to deal with the challenge.

The Commander expressed concern about the uncontrollable bush fires in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions particularly during the dry seasons and attributed the cause to smoking and the activities of hunters.

“We are not against the use of fire. Fire is a good tool for industrial progress and domestic use, but the negative use must be controlled”, he said.

Source: GNA