By Samira Larbie
Accra, Sept 3, GNA – Portions of a building gutted by fire at Zongo Lane in Makola Tuesday morning collapsed in, delaying firefighting efforts.
The fire outbreak, which began on Sunday and persisted till Monday, destroying properties worth millions of cedis, has now been contained, preventing it from spreading to other portions of the complex.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Chief Divisional Officer Grade I Alex King Nartey, a public relations officer for the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), said the fire lasted several hours because there were combustible items in the building, making it difficult for water to pass through to reach the blaze.
The place also housed some Chinese nationals, who had gas cylinders and other items that contributed to the fire’s spread.
Mr. Nartey said that while the fire had been contained, there were still pockets of flames in the building, and firefighters were working tirelessly to extinguish it fully, despite the difficulty.
He explained that the building developed cracks, which caused concern due to the risk involved but assured them that personnel would remain on the premises until the fire was extinguished.
Mr. Nartey urged traders and shop owners to be as concerned about fires as they are about security to protect their property during such times.
He also recommended that structures be designed with disaster mitigation measures in mind.
The PRO said the GNFS would conduct a forensic audit into the incident to determine the fire’s actual cause.
GNA