A fire outbreak at the Kumasi New Kejetia Market has destroyed goods in a retail shop on the first floor after a swift response by the Ghana National Fire Service brought the situation under control.
The blaze affected shop F2230, causing extensive smoke and heat damage to items including hundreds of boxes of matches and other flammable retail products.
According to the GNFS, a nine-member firefighting team led by Maxwell Partey arrived at the scene within two minutes of receiving the distress call.
Firefighters encountered thick smoke billowing from the shop upon arrival and quickly moved in to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the busy market.
The team used portable fire extinguishers and the market’s hose reel system to contain the flames. The fire was brought under control at about 8:48 a.m. and fully extinguished by 9:00 a.m.
Although the rapid intervention helped prevent a wider disaster, the affected shop suffered significant losses. Items damaged or destroyed included about 250 boxes of matches, nail polish chemicals, and 10 deodorant containers, with most of the damage attributed to heat and smoke.
Authorities, however, indicated that goods worth millions of cedis were salvaged due to the timely response of firefighters.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have been triggered by the spontaneous ignition of flammable materials stored in a poorly ventilated space.
No injuries or fatalities were reported.
