The Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, ACFO II Peter Tetteh, has attributed the rapid spread of the fire at the Adum Market in Kumasi to severe congestion within the area. The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Friday, March 21, destroyed numerous shops at the ‘Blue Light’ section of the Central Business District, leaving traders devastated.
Speaking to the media at the scene, ACFO II Peter Tetteh explained that while firefighters responded swiftly to the emergency, their efforts were hampered by the lack of space, which delayed their ability to contain the flames.
“Our personnel arrived promptly to battle the fire, but the congestion in the market posed significant challenges. The closely packed shops left little room for our fire tenders to maneuver, slowing down our response and allowing the fire to spread further,” he stated.
He described the fire as “very complex,” noting that it affected shops both in front and at the back of the market building. According to him, some of the shops contained a variety of goods, which compounded the difficulty of extinguishing the flames.
“We have managed to bring the fire in the front buildings under control,” he said. “However, the situation at the back remains critical due to restricted access. Although our tenders are positioned behind the building, the limited space is a major impediment. We are also using ladders to tackle the fire from the roof, but accessing the right points has been extremely challenging.”
ACFO II Tetteh commended the efforts of his team but lamented the unsafe structural layout of the market, which he said contributed significantly to the intensity of the fire.
Meanwhile, some shop owners defied warnings from firefighters and police officers, risking their lives to salvage items from their burning shops. Despite the danger, they attempted to recover goods, creating additional challenges for emergency responders.
In a related development, the police have arrested two individuals who reportedly took advantage of the chaos to loot items from the affected shops. Law enforcement authorities have pledged to crack down on opportunistic crimes during such disasters.
The fire incident has left scores of traders counting their losses, reigniting calls for proper market planning and enforcement of fire safety regulations in the region.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson #ahotoronline.com
