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The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has indicated that power fluctuation is a likely cause of the fire outbreak that affected a girls’ dormitory at Tolon Senior High School in the Northern Region.
Speaking on Channel 247 News Live with host Fransica Birago, the Northern Regional Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, Hudu Baba, said preliminary investigations point to electrical power supply issues, although a final determination is yet to be made.
According to him, the Tolon SHS incident forms part of a worrying trend, with three senior high school dormitory fires recorded within a single week in the region, all involving girls’ dormitories.
“This has been a big worry for us, especially within the Northern Command. Within one week, we have recorded three institutional fires involving senior high schools,” Mr. Baba said.
He explained that while investigations are ongoing, early findings suggest that power fluctuations may have contributed to the outbreak at Tolon SHS. However, he stressed that whether the electrical faults originated from student activities or from the main power supply is still being assessed by investigators.
Mr. Baba disclosed that the fire caused significant damage to the dormitory, with 17 rooms destroyed at one of the affected schools, each accommodating about 16 students. The fire also consumed students’ personal belongings.
In the Tolon SHS incident specifically, he noted that three rooms were affected after the fire started in the upper part of a block, but the swift response of firefighters helped prevent it from spreading further.
“We were able to stop the fire in the third room and saved about 10 other rooms, including the washrooms, from being destroyed,” he said.
As part of preventive measures, Mr. Baba said the GNFS has begun discussions with education authorities to strengthen fire safety in schools. He revealed that the Regional Director of Education has engaged the Fire Service to escalate the matter to the national level.
He added that plans are underway to encourage all senior high schools across the country to collaborate with the GNFS to form student fire volunteer groups. These groups, he said, will help inspect electrical installations and identify potential hazards to prevent future outbreaks.
The GNFS has assured the public that investigations into the Tolon SHS fire will continue, and appropriate recommendations will be made once the final report is completed.
Yaw Boagyan
Rafiq Adam
