Firefighters battling a raging blaze at Adum Market in Kumasi have been given an estimated timeline of three to four hours to bring the situation under control.
According to a national security operative on the ground, emergency responders are facing major challenges due to structural obstructions, prompting authorities to deploy excavators and bulldozers to clear the way.
“I think it can take extra 3, 4 hours to quench the fire. We have 11 tenders here. So it will take about 4, 5 hours to quench it,” the operative said.
The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Friday, March 21, has already caused extensive damage, with numerous shops and stalls reduced to ashes.
The affected section of the market is known for selling second-hand clothing and housing seamstresses, tailors, and watch repairers. The presence of highly flammable materials has intensified the blaze, making it difficult for firefighters to contain.
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Despite having sufficient water in the fire tenders, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has struggled to reach the source of the fire due to narrow pathways and wooden structures blocking access. The operative emphasized that these obstructions have been a major setback in firefighting efforts.
“There’s water in the tenders, but how to get to the source of the fire is the problem. The structures, these wooden structures that they have on the railway, that is the major problem. The military has come, and they are bringing extra people to help us,” he explained.
To address these challenges, authorities have ordered the deployment of heavy-duty machinery to remove the obstructions, allowing firefighters to move freely and intensify their efforts.
“The way forward is we are bringing excavators, bulldozers to come and clear this so the fire tenders will get access.”
Initially, six fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, but additional resources, including military personnel, have since been mobilized to assist in controlling the blaze.
Meanwhile, Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene has visited the scene to assess the damage and receive a briefing from national security officials coordinating the response.































































