More than 45 structures were destroyed after fire swept through a section of an informal settlement and market behind the Royal VVIP Bus Terminal near the Circle Interchange in Accra, yesterday.
The outbreak displaced occupants and traders who lived and operated in the structures, leaving them to count their losses.
Items destroyed in the fire included refrigerators, cooking equipment, gas cylinders, phone accessories and other household and trading items, with some traders reporting the loss of cash amounts running into thousands of cedis.
Fire confined
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Head of Public Relations of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Divisional Officer (DFO) Grade II, Desmond Akah Otto, said firefighters arrived at the scene of the incident shortly after a distress call was received at about 10:07 a.m., but the fire had already spread widely.
He explained that the congested nature of the makeshift structures created serious access challenges, forcing firefighters to break through parts of the settlement to reach the seat of the fire.
DFO II Otto said they managed to contained the fire after a difficult firefighting operation and prevented it from spreading to the Royal VVIP Bus Terminal, a nearby fuel filling station and other adjoining areas.
Fire tenders
The GNFS spokesperson said the fast-spreading fire required the deployment of four additional fire tenders from nearby stations, supported by water tankers from the Ghana Immigration Service and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
DFO II Otto said fire investigators had conducted preliminary assessments at the scene and would undertake a full technical examination after all remaining pockets of fire had been extinguished.
He gave an assurance that the outcome of the investigation would be made public upon completion.
Meanwhile, firefighters remained at the scene to address remaining pockets of fire and prevent any potential re-ignition.
Gas cylinders explosion
The Regional Officer of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Dennis Nartey, said several gas cylinders were retrieved from the affected area, some of which exploded and intensified the blaze.
He said the area served both residential and commercial purposes, with some occupants sleeping in the structures, increasing the risk of fire outbreaks.
Mr Nartey explained that the area was originally designated as a garden to beautify the Circle Interchange but had gradually been converted into an informal settlement and market.
He said occupants had earlier been served eviction notices, with February 24 set as the final deadline for evacuation.
Eyewitness
Eyewitnesses said the fire started from a refrigerator inside one of the structures and spread rapidly due to the close arrangement of the wooden stalls.
A trader, Vida Amewugbe, said she first noticed smoke coming from a fridge before flames engulfed nearby structures.
