One of the gutted vehicles at Suame Magazine
A FIRE outbreak has claimed the life of a 70-year-old woman, gutted four cars and caused massive destruction to other properties at Suame Magazine, the biggest vehicles repair hub in the Ashanti Region.
The deceased, who has been identified as Madam Bawama Naya, was said to have been trapped by the dangerous inferno, which started at the Suame Magazine Zone 18 near the Garages in Kumasi at 3:22 a.m. on Saturday.
Naya’s charred body has since been deposited in the morgue for preservation by the police, as the appropriate authorities are investigating what caused the blaze.
A press release by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ashanti Regional Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), DO III Atta-Aheng Mensah, said firefighters were dispatched to the fire scene immediately they heard about the blaze.
According to him, “Upon arrival, the fully developed fire had engulfed three (3) wooden structures, three (3) metal containers, four (4) vehicles, and nine (9) DAF vehicle engines.
“The responding crew immediately adopted both offensive and defensive firefighting strategies, successfully bringing the fire under control at 0359 hours and fully extinguishing it at 0451 hours using water and foam.
“Tragically, Madam Bawama Naya, aged 70, was trapped in the fire and lost her life. Her charred body was handed over to officers from the Suame District Police Command for preservation and further investigation.”
He said through the swift intervention and coordinated efforts of the firefighters, three Sprinter buses, one ‘Smiling’ Benz bus, and one ‘Opanka’ bus were successfully salvaged from the fire, adding, “The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.”
In order to avert such fire outbreaks in future, DO III Atta-Aheng Mensah sternly warned the public, notably operators within industrial and commercial enclaves, to strictly adhere to basic fire safety measures at all times.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi