Power restoration fault suspected in Kumasi Central Market fire

The Ghana National Fire Service is probing a potential power-restoration fault as the possible catalyst for a fire at the Kumasi Central Market on Friday night, according to eyewitness accounts. Ashanti Regional Fire Commander ACFO I Peter Tetteh stated that people on the scene reported a brief power outage, which was quickly followed by the restoration of electricity.

Tetteh noted that this brief power cut was when many witnesses observed the fire igniting. However, Tetteh emphasized that this power-restoration fault has not been officially confirmed as the cause of the blaze and that the investigation is still ongoing. The fire erupted shortly after electricity was restored, according to the eyewitness accounts.

Traders with basic fire safety training attempted to extinguish the early flames using portable extinguishers before the arrival of the firefighters. Yet, the rapid spread of the fire proved too intense for them to control. The initial fire appliance, from Asokore Mampong, reached the scene at 8:39 pm. Crews established containment lines to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas of the market.

A total of five appliances, comprising four fire tenders and a water tanker, were deployed to combat the fire. Tetteh mentioned that the primary obstacle faced by the firefighters was movement, as traders rushed to retrieve their belongings, creating obstructions and crowding the lanes. The fire was the second incident in the Kumasi metropolis within a span of three hours on Friday, following an earlier fire at a mattress factory at Sokoban-Ampayoo.

The extent of the damage, including the number of affected shops, the value of goods lost, and any injuries or casualties, is yet to be disclosed; an assessment of the total losses is currently underway.