Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A potential disaster was prevented on Thursday, January 23, when the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) quickly responded to a fire outbreak at the well-known Kejetia Market in the Ashanti Region.
The fire, which broke out around 5:15 P.M., caused widespread panic among traders and residents in the area.
According to the Ashanti Regional Commander of GNFS, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Peter Tetteh, the fire originated from a shop that had been closed for more than a year. The shop’s owner had passed away last year, leaving the premises unattended since then.
In an interview with Citi News, ACFO Tetteh explained that investigations were ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire, considering the unusual circumstances surrounding the abandoned shop.
“The fire was noticed around 5:15, so our men rushed in to extinguish it. It started from a shop whose owner passed away a year ago and has been closed since, so we are still trying to determine the exact cause,” he said.
He also acknowledged the crucial role of the market’s sprinkler system in preventing the fire from spreading further. The system was activated immediately upon detection of the fire, helping to flood the affected area and contain the flames before they could escalate.
“They were able to put it out because the sprinklers were activated, which flooded the area. However, there needs to be a proper drainage system in place so that traders can resume their businesses quickly after such incidents,” ACFO Tetteh added.
While the fire was successfully put out, the flooding caused by the sprinklers created difficulties for traders whose stalls and goods were affected by the water.
ACFO Tetteh called for the implementation of proper drainage solutions to manage such situations in the future, ensuring minimal disruption to business activities following similar events.