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A Swift response from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) last Thursday averted a potential disaster at the Kejetia Market in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.
The fire, which was reported to have originated from a shop that had been closed for over a year, was noticed around 5:15 p.m. It sparked widespread alarm among traders and residents of the area.
The GNFS Ashanti Regional Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Peter Tetteh, told media personnel that the GNFS received the distress call at about 5:27 pm, and personnel responded swiftly by moving in and bringing the fire under control at 0547 hours and fully extinguished at 5:58pm
Two stores on the second floor of the market were affected.
ACFO Tetteh said the cause of the fire from the shop was not known as the shop had been closed after the owner reportedly passed away last year.
He said the GNFS had launched investigations to know what could have triggered the fire.
“The fire was noticed around 5:15 and the distress call was came through at about 5:27pm, so our men rushed in to quench it. It started from a shop whose owner reportedly passed away a year ago and hasn’t been opened so we are yet to ascertain what caused the fire.”
The Regional Fire Commander said thanks to to intensified patrols, swift response, and tactical firefighting efforts, the team salvaged 23 shops out of 25, preventing the fire from spreading further, while no injuries or fatalities were recorded.
ACFO Tetteh also highlighted the crucial role played by the market’s sprinkler system in preventing the fire from spreading to other parts of the facility.
He said the system was activated as soon as the fire was detected, flooding the affected area and containing the flames before they could escalate.
“They were able to put it off because they activated the sprinklers which also flooded the place and so there should be a system to drain the water so that the sellers can start their business,” he added.
While the fire was successfully extinguished, the flooding caused by the sprinkler system posed challenges for traders whose stalls and goods were affected by the water.
The Regional Fire Commander, therefore, called for measures to ensure proper drainage systems were in place to manage such situations in the future, ensuring minimal disruption to business activities after similar incidents.
“Ideally, the water from the sprinkler should drain by itself. Unfortunately, due to the poor drainage system, it ended up flooding the area. It is unfortunate that it has caused an inconvenience, but thankfully, it was to save a dire situation,”?ACFO Tetteh stated.
The country has witnessed a disturbing increase in fire outbreaks since the beginning of this year.
One of the most notable fire disasters occurred at the Kantamanto Market on January 2, which claimed one life, injured 14 people and left over 30,000 traders affected, with more than 7,000 shops reduced to ashes.
A similar incident occurred at the Techiman Central Market, one of the biggest markets in the West African sub-region, destroying about 700 shops containing goods worth millions of cedis.
To avert any more fire outbreaks and protect markets across the country, the GNFS announced comprehensive measures including the deployment of personnel and fire appliances to provide 24-hour fire cover.
Per the plan, all GNFS personnel and equipment have been stationed at markets nationwide from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, ensuring round-the-clock fire surveillance.
In addition, a dedicated task force has been deployed to patrol the markets daily to maintain constant vigilance and respond swiftly to any fire emergencies.
Also to further enhance safety, fire units or posts have been established in key markets to conduct fire safety education, regular inspections and enforce compliance with fire safety protocols.
