A fire broke out at a retail shop on the first floor of the Kumasi New Kejetia Market, destroying significant quantities of goods before crews from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) managed to bring it under control.
In a Facebook post, the GNFS reported that the blaze occurred at shop F2230, causing extensive smoke damage to merchandise, including hundreds of boxes of matches and other flammable items. While firefighters rescued some goods, a large portion of the shop’s inventory had already been lost to the fire.
Thanks to the rapid response of the fire service, authorities estimate that goods valued at millions of Ghana cedis were saved.
Early investigations suggest the fire may have started spontaneously due to flammable materials being stored together in a space with poor ventilation.
Fortunately, no injuries or deaths were recorded, much to the relief of traders and shoppers at the busy market.
A team of nine firefighters, led by Station Officer I Maxwell Partey, reached the scene just two minutes after receiving the emergency call.
Upon arrival, they encountered thick smoke pouring from the shop and acted immediately to stop the fire from spreading.
The team used portable extinguishers and the market’s installed hose reel system to gain control of the situation.
The fire was contained by approximately 8:48 a.m. and completely put out by 9:00 a.m. Still, the shop suffered considerable losses.
Among the items damaged or destroyed were roughly 250 boxes of matches, nail polish chemicals, and ten containers of deodorant. Officials noted that most of the damage resulted from smoke and heat exposure.
