Accra’s main timber market was on Saturday gutted by a massive blaze.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), they received a distress call at 1:17am on Saturday about a fire around the Ayalolo Cluster of Schools, and the first firefighting crew arrived at the scene four minutes later.
Seven fire engines were deployed to the scene from the Accra City, Accra Regional Headquarters Substation, Ministries, Circle, National Headquarters, Abelenkpe and Legon stations.
These were supported by one GNFS water tanker and two additional tankers from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Ablekuma Municipal Assembly.
The combined response enabled the crew to confine the fire by 6:26am, brought under control by 6:37am, and eventually extinguished by 11: 44am.
Two firefighters sustained injuries during the operation, as another suffered an electrical shock, with one other sustaining burns on his arm.
Several shops dealing in wood planks and hardware were destroyed, the GNFS said, adding that adjoining buildings including the Ayalolo Cluster of Schools were saved from the blaze.
The Acting Chief Fire Officer, Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, was said to have rushed to the scene to assess the situation.
She was later joined by the Deputy Director Operations, ACFO II Osmond Anum, the Greater Accra Regional Commander, ACFO II Rashid Kwame Nisawu and other senior officers, all of whom partook in the coordination.