A fire outbreak at the Kumasi New Kejetia Market has destroyed goods at a retail shop on the first floor before it was brought under control by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
The incident affected shop F2230, causing extensive smoke damage to stock, including hundreds of boxes of matches and other flammable retail items.
According to the GNFS, a team of nine firefighters, led by Station Officer I Maxwell Partey, responded swiftly, arriving at the scene within two minutes after receiving a distress call.
Firefighters were met with thick smoke billowing from the shop upon arrival, prompting an immediate intervention to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the busy market.
The team deployed portable extinguishers and utilised the market’s hose reel system to contain the blaze. The fire was brought under control at about 8:48 a.m. and fully extinguished by 9:00 a.m.
Despite the quick response, the shop recorded significant losses. Items destroyed or damaged included approximately 250 boxes of matches, nail polish chemicals, and 10 deodorant containers, with most of the damage attributed to heat and smoke.
However, authorities say goods worth millions of Ghana cedis were salvaged due to the timely intervention of the fire service.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been caused by the spontaneous ignition of flammable materials stored in a poorly ventilated space.
No injuries or fatalities were recorded.
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