Fire razes makeshift warehouse at Lartebiokorshie
A warehouse being used as a makeshift factory for the production of rubber slippers and shoes was destroyed in a fierce fire outbreak at Lartebiokorshie on Tuesday afternoon.
An adjacent residential house was also burnt to the ground in the blaze, which sent plumes of thick, black smoke over the area.
The incident, which lasted for hours after starting around 4 pm, also caused minor damage to two other neighbouring houses as firefighters battled to contain the spread of the flames.
Officials from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have, however, confirmed that there were no casualties or fatalities recorded.
Eyewitnesses described a sudden, loud explosion that preceded the fire.
“I was in my shop when we heard a very loud bang, like a tyre had burst, but much louder. We rushed out and saw smoke and then flames coming from the top of the building,” said Kofi Mensah, a trader near the scene, in an interview with GraphicOnline.
“The fire spread very fast because of the materials inside, rubber and plastics. It was intense,” Nii Lante, a resident of the area told the Daily Graphic in an interview.
Another eyewitness, Ama Serwaa, who lives close to the factory, recounted the panic that ensued. “The smoke was so thick and black, and we could hear small explosions from inside. Everyone was just running to save their lives and their property. We are just thankful that no one was hurt.”
Personnel from the GNFS arrived at the scene and fought for hours to bring the inferno under control at about 10 pm. Six fire tenders were deployed to the scene. Several private water tankers assisted the firefighters with water.
Their efforts prevented the fire from causing even greater devastation to the densely populated community.
While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be officially determined, initial assessments point to a possible power-related explosion.
The Greater Accra Regional Fire Officer, ACFO II Rashid Kwame Nisawu, said investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
However, he said such fire incidents were a result of indiscipline and the blatant disregard for fire prevention regulations.
ACFO Nisawu said the makeshift structure was not fit for the purpose it was being used for before the fire started, and as a result, the firefighters had difficulty in accessing the inner perimeter of the building where the fire was intense.
He advised the public to strictly follow safety protocols when establishing a factory or warehouse to prevent such incidents.
According to the Fire Service, the first pump from the Greater Accra Regional Headquarters Substation arrived on scene at 4:24 pm to find the fire well advanced.
Reinforcements followed swiftly, with five (5) additional fire tenders from Industrial Area, Circle, Accra Metro, Ministries, and Flagstaff House Fire Stations, supported by four private water tankers.
Two firefighters and one civilian who sustained injuries have since been treated and are recovering.
Earth-moving equipment was deployed on Wednesday to assist firefighters in excavating unburnt debris, to ensure full extinguishment of the deep-seated fire involving leather and plastic footwear materials stored in the warehouse.
