3 Die in Odumase “Commercial” Fire
Three people have been confirmed dead after a ‘commercial’ fire broke out at Odumase in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday night.
An unknown number of civilians and five personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) sustained various degrees of injuries.
According to the Service, the fire started around 7 pm and spread to nearby residences, affecting 30 buildings and 8 shops.
“Upon arrival at 19:13 hours, firefighters encountered an explosion from a shop containing explosives, injuring five crew members and damaging their fire tender,” the GNFS confirmed in a press statement.
The plights were exacerbated when the pump operator collapsed, making it impossible to initiate firefighting, the Service said, forcing distressed civilians to pelt stones at responders.
The firefighters therefore withdrew.
It added that a backup crew from FK Jersey (Ejisu) was dispatched but did not proceed to the scene due to security concerns.
Meanwhile, it said the injured firefighters were transported to Asante Akim Central Government Hospital and have since been discharged.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
