ASSESSMENT OF FIRE RISK VULNERABILITY OF THE TAMALE METROPOLITAN AREA OF GHANA

Abstract

In the last three decades, devastating fire disasters have challenged the ability of city authorities in Tamale to protect lives, property, and the city’s fragile ecologies. Available studies on the phenomenon have often focused on effects and build-back processes after fire disasters have occurred. There have therefore been urgent calls on researchers to extend research on fire disasters to cover their complex nature and how they can be minimized. This research therefore maps fire risk zones and assesses fire risk vulnerability in the Tamale Metropolitan Area using the mixed method approach. The fire risk zones were mapped using Geospatial Techniques while multistage sampling techniques were used to select 196 households from five residential categories to participate in the survey. This was supplemented by in-depth interviews with heads of fire management institutions. The results show that the fire risk zones were found Aboabo, Sakasaka Lamashiegu, Sabonjida, Zogbeli, Tishigu, Shieshegu, Kalpohini, Koblimahagu, Kukuo, Fuo, Old Vittin Duhinnayili, Choggu, Gumani, Gumbihini, Nyohni, and Kanvili Among the factors that contributed to increased fire risk vulnerabilities were unauthorized electrical connections, congestion, lack of exits and access routes, inadequate fire hydrants among others. It also emerged that limited collaboration and coordination among state entities in charge of disaster management heightened fire risk vulnerability in the city. The research recommends that for Tamale to be counted among cities with limited vulnerability to fire disasters in Ghana, it will not only be vital to strengthen fire disaster risk reduction policies, but more importantly the policies should be matched with the appropriate institutional structures with the political will and capacity to provide risk reduction interventions.