A devastating fire has displaced more than five families at Mallam Atta, a suburb of Accra Newtown, after a private facility they were inhabiting was gutted by flames. The fire, which started around 6:00 pm on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, was the second incident recorded in Accra on that day.
The affected facility is a privately owned storey building that accommodates shops and serves as a residence for some occupants. Fortunately, the residential occupants were not at home, and the shop operators were about to close when the fire broke out.
The timely intervention by personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service limited the damage and prevented the inferno from spreading to two more rooms. Shopkeepers were able to salvage their wares, mainly rubber products, thanks to the swift response of the fire service.
The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, but eyewitnesses suspect a gas cylinder explosion may have been the culprit. One of the shoppers, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that fire service personnel retrieved a gas cylinder from the affected room, but its role in the fire remains uncertain.
Alex King Nartey, spokesperson for the Ghana National Fire Service, emphasized the importance of containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to nearby facilities. The affected families now face the challenge of finding alternative accommodations for the night, an unexpected hurdle in the aftermath of the disaster.
