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A total of 602 cases of fire were recorded in the Ashanti Region, between January and November this year, Mr Philip Aheng-Mensah, Regional Fire Officer, has disclosed. Compared to the 677 cases during the same period last year, there has been a significant reduction. Mr Aheng-Mensah attributed this to the intensive fire safety education carried out by the Ghana National fire Service (GNFS) in the region. It is ample testimony that the fire safety education undertaken by the service is paying off as the people are appreciating the socio-economic effects of fire disasters. The Regional Fire Officer made this known when the Interior Minister, Mr Cletus Avoka visited the Regional Headquarters of the Service at Chirapatre in Kumasi. He said the service was extending the education campaign to the markets, churches, educational institutions, industries and the media. He appealed for the replacement of aged and obsolete fire equipment and appliances. Mr Aheng-Mensah also complained about lack of protective clothes, breathing apparatus, offices and housing for personnel, which make it difficult for them to quickly mobilise during fire emergencies. Mr Avoka promised that government would continue to address the challenges facing the security services.