Fire ravages factory in South Industrial Area

Despite the seeming danger posed by the fire and the likelihood of escalation, several onlookers had gathered around to watch and ostensibly know the outcome of the fire fighting. 

It took personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service three hours to bring the fire under control.

Seven fire engines and two turntable ladders were marshalled from Accra and Tema to fight the fire.

For many hours, personnel fought the fire but what did the trick, according to Divisional Officer II Michael Gabine, was the foam compound, a chemical which subdued the fire in a matter of minutes after it had been poured on it.

Fire fighting foam is a liquid chemical used for fire suppression. Its role is to cool the fire and coat the fuel, preventing its contact with oxygen, resulting in suppression of the combustion.

 “The fire was terrible,” DO Gabine stated a few minutes after fire personnel had managed to bring the fire under control.

“The chemical foam did the trick,” he stated.

Fortunately, the fire was confined to the place where the chemicals used in producing the paint had been kept.

 According to a fire officer, those chemicals were highly inflammable, hence the difficulty in fighting the fire at the initial stages.

 Eyewitnesses said they saw thick smoke from the company and some of the workers hauling paint from the warehouse outside.

Mr Kenneth Ampofo and his team from the Okaikoi South National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) office and policemen from the Kaneshie Police Station were at the scene to support the fire fighting.

Story by Naa Lamiley Bentil