Public cautioned against attempting to extinguish fire before calling Fire Service

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has urged Ghanaians to call for help immediately upon detecting a fire, cautioning against attempting to extinguish it first. Assistant Chief Fire Officer Grade One (ACFO I) Rev. Naomi Ofori-Adubea Sarpong emphasized that "Fire will not wait for you during those few minutes you delay." This appeal followed a fire outbreak on Thursday night at a warehouse of Zeko Genius Motor Spare Parts in Techiman South Municipality, Bono East Region.

GNFS Control Room received the call at 9:29 p.m., and firefighters arrived promptly, but the inferno had already intensified. Workers and passers-by had been battling the flames before calling for assistance. Despite efforts by eight firefighters with two fire tenders and a Rapid Response Vehicle, it took nearly four hours to control the blaze.

The GNFS commander said their actions prevented the fire from spreading to nearby properties, including Gaskiya FM, Zen fuel station, and a storey building. She warned that the consequences could have been catastrophic if the flames reached the fuel station. Ofori-Adubea Sarpong stressed the need for traders to keep fire extinguishers and ensure staff know how to raise the alarm quickly. The cause of the fire and the extent of financial loss are under investigation.