Kumasi: Wood market at Kwadaso catches fire

A wood market at Kwadaso in Kumasi on Saturday caught fire destroying property.

A distress call was placed to personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) who responded to fight the fire.

The devastating fire swept through the  wood market in Kumasi, popularly called Borla Kɛseɛm, on Saturday, January 4, 2025, between 4:30pm and 5:00pm.

The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by an electrical fault in the main sawmill section, spread rapidly and ignited an explosion in the nearby ECG Power Supply chamber.

Despite the swift response of traders and neighbours, who rushed to the scene to offer assistance, the fire proved uncontrollable.

Emergency services were quickly called in, and police and firefighters from the nearest stations rushed to the scene.

However, their efforts were hindered by the market's poor accessibility, which slowed their response.

Although they managed to secure the inner business arena, the fire ravaged the main sawmill, destroying major plants, equipment, and thousands of cedis worth of wood.

The incident has left traders and business owners counting their losses, with many calling for improved safety measures and emergency access to prevent such disasters in the future.

Below are some photos from the scene