A swift and coordinated response by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on Tuesday, March 17 prevented a localized fire from turning into a massive commercial disaster at the Sakumono Estate Junction.
The incident, which broke out near the busy bus stop opposite C&J Hospital, threatened a dense cluster of businesses before fire crews managed to contain the flames.
The alarm was raised at 14:47 hours, sending units from the Motorway Fire Station into the heart of the afternoon heat.
Arriving on the scene by 15:06 hours, crews were met with thick smoke and rapidly spreading flames.
Recognizing the potential for a total “washout” of the commercial strip, reinforcements were immediately called in from both the Tema Metro and Industrial Fire Stations.
The firefighting teams worked for over an hour to establish a perimeter, successfully bringing the blaze under control by 16:02 hours.
While the damage was significant for those directly in the path of the fire, the “stop-save” was considered a major success by officials.
A total of 42 shops were salvaged; four shops were completely destroyed, while another four were partially damaged. No casualties were recorded.
The fire was fully extinguished by 16:52 hours, leaving the structural integrity of the majority of the market block intact.
In a statement filed on Wednesday, March 18, the Public Relations Officer for the Tema Region commended the professionalism of the responding officers.
The “bravery and efficiency” of the crews were cited as the primary reasons over forty families did not lose their livelihoods yesterday.
”The GNFS remains committed to safeguarding lives and property. Our crews demonstrated peak professionalism in ensuring this incident did not escalate further,” the PRO stated.
While the immediate danger has passed, the area remains under observation.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown and remains under investigation by fire officers.
By 1960news.com
