Kumasi:The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is examining an electrical fault, potentially triggered by the restoration of power, as a possible cause of the fire that ravaged part of the Kumasi Central Market near the Aboabo station.
According to Ghana Web, Ashanti Regional Fire Commander ACFO I Peter Tetteh mentioned that initial eyewitness reports indicated the fire began shortly after electricity was restored following a brief power outage.
During an inspection of the site, Tetteh shared these findings alongside officials including the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga; Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene; and Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire started three minutes after power was restored.
Despite these accounts, Tetteh emphasized that the cause of the fire has not been definitively established, and investigations are still ongoing. He noted that traders with fire safety training attempted to extinguish the flames with portable fire extinguishers but were unable to prevent the fire from spreading.
The first fire engine, dispatched from Asokore Mampong, arrived at the scene at 839 pm. Firefighters set up containment lines to stop the fire from spreading further, deploying a total of five appliances, including four fire tenders and one water tanker.
Tetteh assured that the firefighting efforts were not hindered by water shortages. However, he identified congestion and obstructions by traders trying to save their belongings as significant challenges during the operation, complicating access for the fire crews even in the presence of police.
The GNFS continues to investigate the fire's cause while assessing the damage and financial losses suffered by traders.