Madina, Accra – A devastating fire outbreak swept through several wooden structures near Madina Redco, plunging the area into chaos on Saturday afternoon as flames, smoke, and live electric cables sent residents scrambling for safety.
The fire, which reportedly began at a local Washing Bay, quickly engulfed adjacent makeshift homes and shops, raising fears of casualties and structural collapse.
Firefighters from the Madina Fire Station were the first to respond to distress calls from the community. Reinforcement teams were swiftly dispatched from the University of Ghana Fire Station, Abelenkpe, and the National Headquarters of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to bolster firefighting efforts as the flames spread rapidly.
Top fire officials, including the Greater Accra Regional Commander of the GNFS and the Deputy Director of Operations, arrived at the scene to coordinate the multi-agency response. A water tanker from the National Headquarters was also mobilised to assist in dousing the flames and preventing the fire from spreading to nearby buildings and residential compounds.
Though the fire has since been confined, officials say hotspots remain and full extinguishment efforts are ongoing.
In a precautionary move, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) was contacted to disconnect power in the affected enclave to avert further danger. Meanwhile, police personnel were deployed to the area to manage the growing crowd and maintain public order amid fears of further flare-ups.
So far, no injuries or fatalities have been officially confirmed, though several residents have lost property and shelter.
This marks the second fire outbreak within a month in the Madina area. A similar blaze at Ritz Junction destroyed numerous wooden structures, sparking renewed concerns over the prevalence of fire-prone makeshift settlements in urban Ghana.
Authorities are expected to launch an investigation into the cause of the fire while assessing the scale of damage and potential displacement of residents.
Source – My News Ghana
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