In a significant development, a massive fire has erupted at a police complex located in the city of Ismailia, situated in northeastern Egypt.
According to initial reports, multiple individuals have sustained injuries as a result of this incident.
Videos shared across various online platforms vividly illustrate the security directorate, a towering multi-story building, being engulfed in flames. Civil defense sources have indicated that certain sections of the structure have collapsed due to the intense blaze.
Eyewitnesses on the scene have noted that fire crews dispatched to the location appear to be facing considerable challenges in their efforts to bring the fire under control. Reuters news agency has cited witnesses who describe the scene as fire engines grapple with the inferno. However, there is some relief in the form of a later report from state TV, confirming that the fire has been successfully contained.
As of now, the cause of the fire remains shrouded in uncertainty and is the subject of ongoing investigation.
It is deeply concerning to note that deadly fires in Egypt are not uncommon occurrences, often attributable to inadequately enforced fire safety regulations. Tragically, this is not an isolated incident, as just last year in August, dozens of lives were lost in a devastating fire that swept through a church.
Our hearts go out to the victims and their families during this challenging time. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Please stay tuned for further developments concerning this alarming incident.
A fire at a nightclubin the southeastern city of Murcia in Spain has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 11 lives, as reported by Spanish authorities.
Initial reports had stated that seven individuals had lost their lives in the incident. The blaze ignited in the well-known Theatre nightclub in the Atalayas district at around 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT).
Videos circulating online depict flames engulfing the structure and thick, dark smoke billowing from its large windows.
Rescue services are currently combing through the establishment in search of individuals who may be unaccounted for and were present during the incident.
Murcia Mayor Jose Ballesta expressed devastation on Spanish TV channel 24h, stating that rescuers are still actively looking for several people reported missing.
In response to the tragedy, he has declared three days of mourning in Murcia. Relatives are arriving at the scene in an attempt to locate their loved ones.
Image caption,Emergency services are looking for people who are missing
Firefighters gained access to the premises at approximately 08:00, discovering four bodies initially, followed by two more around 40 minutes later. Presently, four individuals are undergoing treatment at the hospital for smoke inhalation.
A local sports venue has been designated to provide counseling and support for those affected by the incident.
The cause of the fire, which occurred while the nightclub was still occupied, remains unclear. The Murcia town hall has expressed deep regret over the tragedy and extended condolences to those impacted by it.
A Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) gas pipeline in Tema Industrial Area has caught fire.
The fire which gutted a booster station behind GTP in Tema Industrial Area has, however, been knocked out by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
The Service employed 5 pumps made up of Titus 4, Titus 5, Motor 4 and two (2) engines from Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).
The affected pipeline found leaking gas has been isolated.
The remaining gas stuck in the pipeline is being managed with foam compound and sacks, according to the Ghana National Fire Service.
Breaking News: Tema Oil Refinery gas pipeline catches fire#INDNews Medikal | Sam Larry | Daddy Lumba | Pastor | Barcelona | Samini | Free SHS | Ayalolo pic.twitter.com/SYOctZiRjt
A fire broke out on Monday morning at the Supreme Court building in Nigeria, located in the Three Arms Zone of the capital, Abuja. The building houses the offices of several justices.
The cause of the fire is not yet clear, but eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud noise from the building before the fire started.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it could spread further.
The Director of Press for the Supreme Court stated that the fire was caused by a “normal electrical problem.” Dr. Festus Akande, Director of Press and Information, also confirmed that some documents were burned in the incident.
He mentioned that the fire affected the chamber of one of the Supreme Court Justices but did not provide details about the specific judge who was affected.
A devastating fire has ravaged numerous shops located behind Kantamanto in Accra, known as CMB, resulting in the destruction of goods valued at millions of Ghana cedis.
The exact cause of the fire, which ignited around 5:00 am on Sunday, remains unknown at this time. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) swiftly dispatched firefighters to the scene, but the flames had already engulfed multiple shops by the time they arrived.
ADO1 Alex Nartey, a Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, reported that several combustible items were discovered at the fire site.
Tragically, by the time the fire was finally extinguished, several shops had been completely reduced to ashes. The incident left many traders at the market deeply frustrated and disheartened, with many of them having lost their entire livelihoods.
In response to this unfortunate event, the GNFS is offering guidance to traders, advising them to exercise caution with electrical appliances and refrain from storing flammable materials in their shops.
This marks the second major fire incident to occur at the CMB market in recent years, with a similar fire in 2020 causing the destruction of more than 200 shops in the area.
The Western Regional Fire Command has conducted fire safety education programs in numerous schools throughout the region as part of the 2023 Fire Safety Week observance.
The primary aim of these programs was to raise awareness about the dangers of unwanted fires and how to prevent them.
A total of 1,300 pupils, accompanied by their supervisors, had the opportunity to benefit from this initiative. The participating schools included Asempa Junior College, Beahu, Oxford Preparatory, Eikwe, Wisdom Preparatory, Eikwe, Atuabo Catholic Primary and JHS, and Sanzule Krisan Primary and JHS.
In addition, a safety team from the Half Assini Fire Station provided fire safety education to students at ST. Patrick Catholic School, aiming to increase awareness of the risks associated with unwanted fires.
Both the safety team and the students received guidance on following daily fire safety tips to prevent unwanted fires that can release toxic smoke and fumes into the atmosphere.
This education also emphasized the importance of preventing hazardous chemicals and materials from contaminating our water bodies, which can lead to various diseases.
The Greater Accra Region of the Ghana National Fire Service recorded a 3% increase in fire outbreaks in the first half of 2023. The region recorded 662 fires in the first half of 2023, as against 640 fires for the same period in 2022.
Data from the Accra Regional Fire Command indicates that at least 66 people died and 24 others suffered injuries due to fire outbreaks and other related incidents in the first half of this year.
This is against 69 deaths and 162 injuries recorded in the previous year.
This was disclosed by the Greater Accra Regional Fire Commander, ACFO I Roberta Aggrey Ghanson during a media engagement at the Regional Headquarters in Accra.
Ghana recorded an increase in fire outbreaks from January to July this year compared to the same period in 2022, according to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
Chief Fire Officer, Julius Kuunor noted that a total of 3,819 fire outbreaks were responded to by fire fighters in 2023, as against 3,678 cases last year.
This represents an increase of 3.8 per cent in fire outbreaks in the country.
The data was provided at the launch of the 2023 Fire Safety Week in connection with the 60th Anniversary in Accra, on the theme; ‘60 Years of Existence: Fire Safety, the Choice for a Safer Environment’.
Out of the total 3,819 fire outbreaks recorded in the period under review, 1,478 were domestic fires, followed by commercial fires, 636, bush fires, 559, electrical fires, 455, vehicular fires, 363, refuse dump fires, 168, institutional fires, 146, and industrial fires 14.
A breakdown of the fire outbreak cases recorded this year so far reveals that 827 cases were recorded in January, 728 cases in February, 622 cases in March, 506 cases in April, 428 cases in May, 337 cases in June, and 371 cases in July.
Meanwhile, ACFO I Ghanson, has charged the public to be fire safety conscious to prevent these unwanted fires.
Fire has swept through the Senchi Ferry Health Centre in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region, causing extensive damage.
The destructive blaze raged for several hours and resulted in the destruction of two distinct sections within the health facility: one dedicated to reproductive and child health (RCH) and another to the mental health unit.
Numerous items, including vaccine carriers, furniture, air conditioning units, glass doors, T&J ceilings, and various healthcare equipment valued at over GHS 10,000, were lost in the fire.
The Operations Officer of the Asuogyaman National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr. George Mireku Asiamah, revealed that reports had been received indicating that a part of the health facility had caught fire on August 23rd, around 4pm.
According to Mr. Asiamah, a staff member at the health center reported hearing an unusual sound originating from the ceiling fan regulator, which eventually sparked and ignited the fire. Prior to the arrival of the fire service, individuals on-site used fire extinguishers and assistance from the local community to successfully contain the flames, ultimately extinguishing the fire.
Following a comprehensive assessment, Mr. Asiamah suggested that the root cause of the incident could be attributed to an electrical fault. He confirmed that the necessary report had been fully documented and would be forwarded to the relevant authorities for review.
Mr. Asiamah emphasized the need for the speedy restoration of the affected rooms in the coming weeks, as the facility plays a crucial role in providing healthcare services to the local community.
The Senchi Ferry Health Centre is among the most frequently visited healthcare facilities in the area, serving as a vital source of medical care for residents.
In response to the incident, the Asuogyaman District Chief Executive, Mr. Samuel Kwame Agyekum, and the coordinating Director conducted an inspection visit. They also planned to convene a management meeting promptly to discuss strategies for the rehabilitation of the fire-damaged facility.
Furthermore, the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency, Mr. Thomas Ampem Nyarko, has taken proactive steps to address the situation. Reports indicate that he has deployed a team to assess the situation and compile a comprehensive report outlining potential solutions to expedite the resolution of the current challenges faced by the health center.
Prosper Owusu, a student cum Chief priest at the Akenten Appiah-Minkah University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, has tragically lost his life after an accident during a ritual.
The deceased was the Chief Priest for the Opoku Ware Hall at the university and was participating in a fire ritual during a campus gathering when an unfortunate incident occurred.
This incident was reported by the Twitter account “Male Halls,” which provides updates on activities in male halls at various universities.
“The Chief Priest of the Opoku Ware Hall in AAMUSTED has been admitted to the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital after his traditional regalia caught fire during incantations as part of the hall’s activities. Let’s keep him in our prayers,” the page wrote.
‼️ BREAKING NEWS ‼️ The Chief Priest of the Opoku Ware Hall in AAMUSTED has been admitted to the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital after his traditional regalia caught fire during incantations as part of the hall's activities. Let's keep him in our prayers. pic.twitter.com/0cL0a6jocm
Video footage of the incident, which is available online, shows Owusu’s entire body being engulfed in flames. In the footage, he can be seen desperately running around in search of something to extinguish the flames, but his efforts proved futile.
After being hospitalized at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for nearly a week, he tragically passed away on Friday.
“We are deeply saddened to inform you about the tragic loss of the Chief Priest of Opoku Ware Hall in AAMUSTED, who was involved in a fire outbreak six days ago. Unfortunately, the student passed away this afternoon at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, the Traditional Council of Opoku Ware Hall and the entire school community during this difficult time. RIP Chief Prosper Owusu,” a post on Twitter revealed.
The Chief Priest of Opoku Ware Hall in Akenten Appiah-Minkah University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development got burnt 6 days ago. Unfortunately, the student passed away Friday afternoon at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. RIP Chief Prosper Owusu. 🕊 pic.twitter.com/8cWkr7o987
The Dormaa Daily Market in the Bono Region has been gutted by fire, destroying several shops.
The unfortunate incident is said to have occurred on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. The fire, according to the Ghana National Fire Service in a report filed, destroyed nine shops.
These shops had contents such as clothes, tailoring shop, diapers, plastics and food items.
Fortunately, no life was lost. Also, the firefighters managed to salvage five shops and their contents. It is suspected that the fire radiated from a ruined cold store.
The rampaging fire was fought directly and offensively with portable extinguishers and buckets of water.
Following the tragic fire in Johannesburg, South Africa’s opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), is urging citizens to unite for improved and safer living standards for all.
Party leader John Steenhuisen conveyed the gravity of the situation, labeling it a national catastrophe that has inflicted unimaginable pain on innocent individuals.
He confirmed that the DA’s representatives in Johannesburg would be actively involved in aiding those affected by the fire. Simultaneously, Steenhuisen called for stronger measures from authorities to avert similar tragedies.
Steenhuisen stressed the party’s ongoing commitment to advocating for enhanced living conditions and adequate housing for inner city residents, emphasizing the importance of safety and well-being.
Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, noted that the national government and presidency are vigilantly monitoring the situation, prepared to extend assistance if additional support is required.
A 35-year-old woman sustained injuries when another individual poured a mixture of hot water and pepper on her.
Maa Abena, the alleged perpetrator, is said to have accidentally spilled scalding water on the victim following a disagreement.
According to Abena, the victim gossiped about her.
Details are emerging that show the two are close pals.
The suspect allegedly went home, set fire to water, mixed it with pepper, and drenched the victim with it.
Cecilia was brought to the hospital, but she was subsequently released due to her inability to raise the necessary finances for her care.
The incident was later reported to Kwabenya Police Station.
She was arrested and subsequently granted bail.
The husband of the victim, Mr. Isaac Emil, corroborated the story, expressing surprise.
According to him, the two were separated, but the suspect returned home and threw boiling water on the wife.
He stated that the suspect complained to him about his wife, stating that she had gossiped about her, although she neglected to disclose the major issue.
“When the incident occurred, we separated them and thought the problem was resolved, only for the suspect to return home and bring the hot water and pour it on my wife.” I’m surprised because they’re the greatest of friends.”
A fire outbreak razed approximately 15 wooden structures in Official Town, Ashaiman, on Friday, August 4, around 5:00 pm.
Addressing the press, Gladys Adenyo, a survivor, recounted how she and her three children narrowly escaped the inferno with only their lives and the clothes they were wearing.
Sitting under a tree opposite her house, Gladys spotted smoke emanating from a room, prompting her to alert neighbors and seek assistance from the nearby Ashaiman Municipal Fire station.
Tragically, victims like Gladys lost everything to the blaze, including her newly settled home.
Gladys, a single mother who had moved to Official Town three months prior, described the incident as a devastating setback.
Apart from shelter, she’s anxious about her children’s schooling as their uniforms, shoes, and books were reduced to ashes.
Amidst tears, Gladys appealed for support from those capable of helping her family through this challenging period. Another victim, Patience Awako, also pleaded for assistance, as she, her five children, and an elderly deaf and dumb woman have no place to stay.
Assistant Divisional Fire Officer (ADOI) Matthew Kumi, Second in Command at the Ashaiman Municipal Fire Station, reported a 20-minute firefighting effort to contain the blaze. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation.
ADOI Matthew Kumi advised Ashaiman residents to avoid fire-prone activities and emphasized ongoing fire prevention education. He urged them to contact Ghana National Fire Service at 192 or 112 in emergencies.
Off the shore of the Dutch island of Ameland, a cargo ship carrying nearly 3,000 automobiles caught fire, killing one crew member and injuring 22 others.
In order to escape the fire, some of the crew made a 30 m (100 ft) leap into the water.
Rescue workers worry that the fire could burn for days as a massive recovery operation is underway in the North Sea.
Initial attempts by crew members to put out the fires by themselves failed due to being overpowered, and they were ultimately forced to leave.
Willard Molenaar, the skipper of the Ameland lifeboat, reported that seven of them dove into the water.
“One by one, they jumped and we had to fish them out of the water,” he told public broadcaster NOS. “They were really desperate so they had to jump – you don’t just do that for the sake of it.”
In the North Sea, distressing images shared by the coastguard depicted the Panamanian-flagged Fremantle Highway shrouded in smoke, its deck ablaze.
According to the Dutch news agency ANP, the coastguard stated that the fire was expected to persist for several days. In an effort to cool down the vessel, water was being sprayed on the ship’s sides.
However, rescue boats exercised caution in their water usage, as excessive pouring could pose a risk of sinking the ship.
The cargo ship embarked from the port of Bremerhaven in northern Germany, en route to Port Said in Egypt, departing on Tuesday around 15:00 local time.
Unfortunately, it encountered difficulties overnight, approximately 27km (17 miles) north of Ameland in the Wadden Sea, an area within the North Sea designated as a World Heritage site.
The exact cause of the fire remained unknown, although earlier suggestions by the coastguard had indicated the possibility of an electric car being involved, as around 25 of the vehicles onboard were electric.
About 25 of the vehicles on the ship were electric.
Image caption,The cause of the fire has not yet been established
To move the cargo ship away from major shipping routes to and from Germany, a tugboat was deployed for the task.
The freighter, operated by K-Line but owned by a subsidiary of the Japanese shipbuilding firm Imabari Shipbuilding, is presently stationary. However, there are concerns that it might be listing, adding to the challenges faced by emergency crews at the scene.
The primary focus for the responders is to extinguish the fire and prevent the cargo ship from sinking. Salvage boats are strategically positioned around the vessel, ready for any potential scenarios, while an oil-recovery vessel has been dispatched to the area in case of a leak. As a precautionary measure, air traffic officials have restricted planes from flying near the ship.
Environmental group North Sea Foundation has expressed concern over the increased vulnerability of the Wadden Sea due to the high volume of larger ships utilizing the busy shipping route.
In the past, the area has experienced incidents involving cargo ships. Four years ago, another Panamanian-registered cargo ship lost 270 shipping containers, some of which contained chemicals, during a storm, with some containers washing up on Dutch beaches.
Similarly, in a separate incident last year, a cargo ship carrying 4,000 luxury cars caught fire and sank off the Azores. The blaze was attributed to lithium-ion batteries in the cars, and although water initially proved ineffective, firefighters managed to bring the situation under control before the ship eventually sank during towing.
In the area between Tabarka and Melloula, a Tunisian coastal village that had to evacuate 300 people due to wildfires, I encountered numerous cars parked outside Adil El Selmy’s eco-friendly restaurant.
In a show of support, people had hurriedly gathered to stand in solidarity with the owner, whose eatery had been completely destroyed by the devastating fires that are wreaking havoc in this region along the border with Algeria.
“We left the restaurant as the flames approached,” Mr Selmy says.
The recent unprecedented heatwave in Tabarka had a detrimental impact on the water supply, further complicating the situation for those combating the fires.
People have come to commiserate with Adil El Selmy, who employed 22 people at his restaurant
“We couldn’t douse flames, hours after the wooden building was devastated,” Mr Selmi told me, looking deeply afflicted.
The devastated restaurant, which typically offers a view of the sea, is now obscured by a thick haze of smoke blanketing the area, making it difficult to see the Mediterranean.
On Monday, temperatures soared to 48°C (118°F) in certain parts of North Africa.
In the current era of climate change, marked by an increase in the frequency and intensity of floods and fires, the importance of implementing preventive measures cannot be overstated.
Ghana, specifically, faces recurrent flooding, which can be attributed to various factors such as heavy rainfall, inadequate drainage systems, and human activities like improper waste management and urbanization. Urban areas within the country are particularly vulnerable to frequent flooding during moderate to heavy rainfalls.
The consequences of flooding can be devastating, including the loss of lives, displacement of people, property damage, and more.
Hence, it is crucial to identify effective strategies to mitigate these impacts. With the rainy season approaching, it is highly advisable to take immediate action to prevent, minimize, or manage the adverse effects and costs associated with flooding.
Some standard mitigation strategies include:
1. When purchasing or renting a property, carefully assess flood risks, ideally choosing higher-lying sites away from major watercourses that are less prone to flooding.
2. If you already reside or have a business in a flood-prone area, consider moving to a safer location if possible.
3. Incorporate proper drainage systems into your property to ensure unobstructed water flow.
4. Construct defense walls designed to withstand the maximum water flow height, significantly reducing the impact and cost of flooding.
5. Business owners in flood-prone areas can take simple measures like elevating stock on pallets or storing water-sensitive items on higher shelves or upper floors.
6. Park vehicles in securely covered raised areas that are not prone to flooding, ensuring easy exit during emergencies.
Regarding fire risks, it is crucial to adhere to some of the tips below:
1. Address faulty electrical wiring, which remains a significant cause of fires in Ghana.
2. Employ professionally qualified electricians who are knowledgeable about building and wiring requirements.
3. Ensure all electrical repairs adhere to statutory building and wiring codes.
4. Report Illegal electricity connections to the relevant authorities, as they pose a danger to the entire neighborhood.
5. Avoid accumulating flammable materials on the premises. Flammable goods should be stored in safe and fire-protected buildings or storage areas.
6. Practise responsible personal behavior, such as switching off electrical equipment when not in use and unplugging them.
7. Proper handling of gas, including turning it off when not in use and storing gas cylinders in purpose-built protective structures or using approved cylinders for internal domestic use and storage.
The role of Insurance
Although these preventive measures can assist in reducing risks, they are not foolproof. Despite their implementation, unforeseen circumstances can still result in fires or floods. This is where insurance plays a critical role, acting as a vital safety net by offering financial protection and assistance.
Insurance is often overlooked as a component of flood or fire risk mitigation strategies; however, it can significantly contribute to compensating for losses incurred when all other measures fail. It is essential to consider the risks you are exposed to and get insured accordingly.
Home Insurance is a must-have for anybody who wants to minimize his/her losses in the unlikely event of fire or flood. It offers financial protection against various risks and perils that can damage or destroy a home and its contents.
Here are some key aspects of home insurance:
1. Protects the structure of your home, including its foundation, walls, roof, and attached structures like garages or decks
2. Covers your personal belongings, such as furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing, and valuables against damage
3. Provides 3rd party liability cover for events that occur within your premises.
4. Provides compensation for the cost of alternative accommodation in the event that flood, fire, or other incidents require you to move out of your home during repairs.
5. Provides personal accident cover
Similarly, for those who rent rather than own the property they live in, House Holder Insurance is a very good loss-mitigation measure as it provides the above benefits to the insured at a lower cost.
A devastating fire has ravaged a disadvantaged neighborhood in Durban, a port city in South Africa.
The Kennedy Road informal settlement was engulfed in flames early on Sunday morning, resulting in the destruction of numerous homes.
Tragically, one person has been confirmed dead, and there are concerns that additional casualties may be discovered.
Distressing video footage depicts the charred remnants of makeshift shelters, constructed using corrugated iron sheets, amid the smoldering debris. Desperate residents can be seen salvaging what remains of their possessions.
At present, the cause of the fire remains unknown. However, eyewitnesses suggest that it may have originated from an argument between two individuals who were reportedly intoxicated.
This incident has brought immense suffering to the affected community. The South African Red Cross, recognizing the magnitude of the disaster, estimates that approximately 1,000 shacks have been destroyed, leaving around 3,000 people homeless.
Siyabonga Hlatshwayo, a spokesperson for the South African Red Cross, has described the situation as a catastrophe.
The organization has been working tirelessly to provide essential aid to those affected, including the distribution of hot meals, mattresses, and blankets.
Hlatshwayo has issued an appeal to the public for additional donations to support their efforts in assisting the displaced residents during this challenging time.
Police skirmishes in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris where Nahel, 17, was tragically shot by officers, appear to be getting worse.
Various French outlets are carrying footage of a huge fire engulfing the ground floor of a building, where a bank is located and thick black smoke is billowing out.
Firefighters are on the scene at the Crédit Mutuel bank, local media reports, and they’re trying to rescue people who are understood to be in the flats above.
One reporter tells France 24 the situation has worsened in the last 10 minutes or so. “Around 200 people are here. Everyone is looking on shocked and hoping nothing awful happens,” the journalist says, adding that the fire grew “really quickly”.
We’ll bring you an image of the scene as soon as we get one.
Last night, a devastating fire engulfed a number of mechanic shops located in Asokwa, Ashanti region.
The incident resulted in the destruction of at least six vehicles, numerous engines, and upholstery materials.
Shop owners were left to assess the extent of their losses once the Fire Service, aided by the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), managed to bring the situation under control. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.
Shop owners hailed the swift response from personnel of the fire service who arrived at the scene after six minutes.
“When your call came around 21:35 pm, they were able to make it within 5 minutes, that’s by 21:38, they got here. And the whole magic was that because, around that time, there wasn’t much traffic along the line.
“And because of that they were able to get here at the appropriate time,” Divisional Officer Grade II, Nicholas Opoku Aikins, the Regional Operations Officer of the Fire Service said.
Their intervention was boosted by a sudden downpour in the area.
Divisional Officer Grade II, Nicholas Opoku Aikins is the Regional Operations Officer of the Fire Service.
“We’ve accessed the devastation over here; you could see that now the place is dark so we can’t come out with the actual cause of the fire right now. So tomorrow early in the morning, the crew that was on duty will come and assess everything and look at the probable causes of the fire.”
According to Mr. Aikins, the rains and free flow of traffic affected the work of the Fire Service positively.
“Generally, when it rains, it reduces the extent of fire spread because anytime the rainwater fall on the fire, it evaporates and the atmosphere becomes humid and humid atmosphere does not also support combustion.”
Meanwhile, the mechanics have started counting their losses.
Richard Appiah Kubi is one of the affected fire victims. He is the local chairman of artisans in the area.
“I was so disturbed when someone called to inform me on phone of the fire incident,” he said.
“Among the burnt items are all types of vehicle engines. These are engines and cars of different made that belong to us and our customers.
Some are also spare parts and vehicles that have been burnt beyond repair. Those vehicles we’ve lost to the fire are the latest model of Honda SUV, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Pick Up, Yarris, and many others.”
Firefighters from the Sekondi Metro Fire Station on Tuesday rescued a one-and-half year old baby girl from a rampaging fire on the 4th floor of an affected 3-storey Naval Base Officers Flat near the Hosanna Methodist Church at Kweikuma Caprice in Sekondi.
The rescue team also saved 23 rooms and their contents (on the 3rd, 2nd, 1st and ground floors), an adjoining one-storey self contained apartment with 7 rooms and 3 saloon cars from total fire ruins.
Only 7 rooms on the 4th floor and their contents including home appliances, furniture, personal effects, etc got severely burnt by the fire.
GNFS was informed about the fire incident via a running call at 09:50 am this morning. The first Crew met the fast spreading blaze at an advanced stage amidst thick smoke emanating from the roofs on the 4th floor of the affected 3 storey Naval Base Officers Flat.
Three additional pumps including (Apremdo, Ghana Navy, and GHAPOHA Fire Engines), 2 Water Tankers made up of Ghana Navy Water Tanker and a Private Water Tanker and a Turn Table Ladder were marshaled to the fire scene to bring the fierce blaze under control at 11:12 am.
The blaze which did not claim any life but was confined to the 4th floor was finally knocked out at 12:43 pm by the plucky Firefighters. Only the kitchen on the 4th floor was partially left burnt with its contents.
The cause of the fierce fire remains under investigation.
In May alone, Madina-Ritz Junction in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality has recorded two fire outbreaks.
On May 30, 2023, a second fire incident was battled by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
The fire which started around 11pm is said to have damaged a number of shops in the area.
The GNFS deployed five fire engines from various stations, namely National headquarters, Abelemkpe, Legon, Adenta and Madina to douse the flames.
The cause of the fire incident is yet to be investigated.
The first fire outbreak at Madina-Riz Junction on Monday, May 15, 2023, claimed the life of one 28-year-old Rose Minta believed to be sick and bedridden.
The incident per information from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) occurred in the late morning of Monday.
It took over 2 hours for the firemen to completely douse the flame. The rapid spread of the fierce fire was aided by the close proximity of other combustibles and wooden structures in the vicinity of the fire, the Fire Service said.
Three pumps from Legon, Adenta and Headquarters were mobilized to the fire scene to augment firefighting.
A total of 14 makeshift wooden structures used for both residential and commercial purposes and their contents were destroyed.
Also, “a metal container and an Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) utility pole” were affected by the fire outbreak, a report from the Fire Service added.
Due to the gallant firemen, a catastrophe was intercepted as further spread would have hit a gas filling station nearby, a mechanic shop, 10 wooden structures and adjoining buildings.
Preliminary investigation by the Fire Service revealed that gas cooking apparatus left unattended might have sparked the incident that has left a family bereaved, rendered individuals homeless and others without a means of earning income.
Following a devastating fire that engulfed a seven-storey heritage building in central Sydney, two 13-year-old boys have voluntarily surrendered to the police.
The inferno, which broke out on Thursday afternoon, necessitated the efforts of approximately 100 firefighters to bring it under control.
Law enforcement authorities suspect the involvement of other teenagers in the incident and have appealed for their cooperation, urging them to come forward.
While 13 of the 15 individuals who were homeless and sheltering in the building have been located, the blaze has resulted in the displacement of around 70 residents from nearby structures.
As a precautionary measure, an exclusion zone is expected to remain in effect for seven days.
The police have confirmed that the two teenagers who turned themselves in are currently assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Fire and Rescue New South Wales said the fire reached a “10th” alarm status on Thursday – the most severe level.
The building was heritage-listed and formerly home to the Henderson Hat factory. It had sat vacant for many years, but there were plans to redevelop it into a hotel.
After it caught fire, a thick column of smoke could be seen across Sydney. Video showed the top level of the building falling on to the nearby street.
Fire and Rescue NSW said they were able to contain the fire to prevent damage to nearby residential blocks.
The organisation also said investigations into the cause of the blaze had been taken over by NSW Police Arson Squad.
The building is located in inner-city Sydney, across the road from the city’s central station.
Transport to and from the central area had to be stopped on Thursday as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.
The Malawi government says it is investigating a mysterious fire in the capital Lilongwe that destroyed offices of key government departments holding sensitive information.
The fire gutted the last top two floors of a seven-storey government building destroying the government contracting unit, a department in the president and cabinet’s office.
It also destroyed two departments in the lands ministry – the lands registry and deeds registry. An official described the offices as “holding very sensitive information”.
The community services department in the country’s judiciary was also gutted in the fire reported to have started at 23:00 local time on Saturday.
Information and Digitalisation Minister Moses Kunkuyu said a probe led by the police, supported by other security agencies, was under way to establish the cause of the fire.
Soon after news of the fire broke, social media was awash with insinuations the fire may have been the work of saboteurs and that critical information may have been lost.
But the information minister said the information had been backed up digitally, assuring people not to “worry about any alleged loss of information for nefarious reasons”.
He said the investigations would be conducted quickly and the outcome made available to the public.
Ten fire incidents were recorded in Accra on Sunday, May 21, 2023, according to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
This comes after abakery and some shops were burnt at Kotobabi Abavanna Down and a similar incident at Circle Tiptoe Lane which also led to the destruction of several shops.
Although no casualties were recorded, properties worth thousands of cedis were lost to the inferno on Sunday.
Speaking to the media, an official at the Public Relations Department of the National Fire Service Headquarters ADOII Alex Nartey urged the public to take precautionary measures against such incidents in the rainy reason.
“We are in the rainy season; we are cautioning people to be cautious of their activities. People should learn to be abreast with safety measures. Between 1am to 5am on Sunday, we attended to 10 fires in Accra alone. If you run a bakery or a commercial entity like this, you have to learn how to practice better fire safety measures,” ADOII Alex Nartey advised.
A fire outbreak at Madina-Riz Junction on Monday, May 15, 2023, claimed the life of one 28-year-old Rose Minta believed to be sick and bedridden.
The incident per information from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) occurred in the late morning of Monday.
It took over 2 hours for the firemen to completely douse the flame. The rapid spread of the fierce fire was aided by the close proximity of other combustibles and wooden structures in the vicinity of the fire, the Fire Service said.
Three pumps from Legon, Adenta and Headquarters were mobilized to the fire scene to augment firefighting.
According to the GNFS, a total of 14 makeshift wooden structures used for both residential and commercial purposes and their contents have been destroyed.
Also, “a metal container and an Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) utility pole” were affected by the fire outbreak, a report from the Fire Service added.
Due to the gallant firemen, a catastrophe was intercepted as further spread would have hit a gas filling station nearby, a mechanic shop, 10 wooden structures and adjoining buildings.
Preliminary investigation by the Fire Service reveals that gas cooking apparatus left unattended might have sparked the incident that has left a family bereaved, rendered individuals homeless and others without a means of earning income.
Meanwhile, the Ghana National Fire Service has extended its sympathy to the bereaved family and other victims of the unfortunate incident.
Portions of the Makola Market in the Greater Accra Region caught fire on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
The structures in flames were those closer to the Ghana Commercial Bank.
A team from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) arrived at the scene to douse the flames.
The cause of the fire is unknown as of the time this article was written.
Also, the media is unable to confirm if there are any injuries or deaths. Again, it is unknown the extent of the damage caused by the fire and the properties that were destroyed and their worth.
These details are yet to be provided by the Ghana National Fire Service.
This is not the first time the market has been gutted by fire.
In August 2021, there was a fire outbreak at the Makola Market in the central business district.
The fire is said to have affected the inner perimeter of the new shopping mall where hair and other cosmetic products, among other items, are stocked and sold.
A month before that, a three-storey building and valuables running into millions of Ghana cedis in the area got destroyed by a similar incident.
Fire incidents in 2023
A total of 2,177 fire outbreaks have been recorded between January and March 2023 by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS). A total of 2,403 fire incidents were recorded in the same period in 2022.
In 2023, domestic fires led the chart with a total of 760, followed by bush fires, 492, commercial fires, 336, electrical fires, 208, vehicular fires, 178, refuse fires, 117, institutional fires, 76 and industrial fire outbreaks, 10.
Out of the total fire incidents recorded within the period, 596 were doused by the public and 1,581 were extinguished by the GNFS.
Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Julius A. Kuunuor attributed the decrease in fire outbreaks to the intensive national fire safety education the Service had embarked on over the period.
Minister of Interior, Mr.Ambrose Dery, has proposed that the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) implements a system that will substitute fire personnel who die in the line of duty with relatives who meet the necessary requirements.
To the Minister, this scheme, if well implemented, will go a long way not only to ease the pain of family members who have lost a loved one in the service but also to boost the morale of fire officers.
Mr. Abrose Dery said rewarding and honouring personnel who die during duty are the best motivating factor in any field of work.
He, therefore, charged the GNFS to come out with modalities on how the scheme seeks to replace personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty with family members with the right qualifications.
The Minister also touched on benefits for firefighters who die of diseasesin the discharge of their duties.
So far, five firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Approximately 180 community people from 3 districts in the transitional landscape have been trained by EcoCare Ghana, Tropenbos Ghana, and the Ghana National Fire Service to act as the first responders to fire prevention, monitoring, and control with financial assistance from the European Union.
The first batch of fire volunteers squad was inaugurated on Wednesday, January 25 and equipped with basic fire-fighting tools to aid their work.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Co-founder and Managing Campaigner for EcoCare Ghana,Obed Owusu Addai, stated that it was important to train and equip community members on wildfire management to protect EcoCare Ghana and Tropenbos Ghana’s landscape restoration efforts and enhance food security.
He said through the European Union-funded LEAN Project, the two organisations have invested heavily in tree planting and supported farmers to adopt climate-smart agriculture practices across the landscape and would be catastrophic if the gains made are lost to indiscriminate bush-burning.
He noted with regret that, despite the constant education, bushfires are still rampant in the landscape.
He added that the incidents have contributed to biodiversity loss, reduced soil fertility and contributed to poverty.
He advised the fire volunteer squads and stakeholders to increase education in their communities on the impacts of indiscriminate bush burning and support the fire services to carry out their mandate in curbing wildfires.
The Fire Safety Officer at Bono East Regional Fire Service, Imoro Ibrahim, acknowledged that the Ghana National Fire Service needs to collaborate with community members to end the menace of wildfires.
He added that there have been several attempts to set up fire volunteer squads in the landscape, however, due to limited resources they haven’t been able to equip them to work effectively.
He was optimistic that the support given to the volunteers through the LEAN Project will go a long way to help combat wildfires and reduce their destructive impact.
The Deputy Bono East Regional Forestry Commission Director, Rev. Obour-Wiredu, reiterated the need for stakeholders in the transition landscape to collaborate.
He cautioned farmers within the landscape to protect the environment against wildfires to safeguard food security for the country.
The training of the fire volunteer squad is part of the Landscapes and Environmental Agility across the Nation (LEAN) Project.
The four-year project is funded by the European Union’s flagship GCA+ initiative that aims to conserve biodiversity, build climate resilience, reduce emissions from land-use changes and help smallholder farmers improve their livelihoods.
The project is being implemented in Ghana by a consortium of four partners: Rainforest Alliance in the High Forest Zone, World Vision Ghana in the Savannah and Tropenbos Ghana and EcoCare Ghana in the transition landscape respectively.
The trained fire volunteers were selected from 15 communities in the Techiman Municipal and Offinso North and South Districts. Persistent wildfires during the dry season have become a norm in Ghana, contributing to the rapid loss of forest cover and high carbon emission which leads to climate change.
The World Economic Forum in 2021 estimated that wildfires cost $50 billion globally per year and emit 6450 tonnes of Carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
In Ghana, the transition landscape is one of the most wildfire-prone areas, leading to invaluable loss of farmlands and biodiversity.
One person dead and several others injured after unknown man opened fire at the Wa East District of the Upper West Region.
According to reports, the residents effected an arrest of an unknown man, who was armed, in the area. But suddenly other armed men emerged from the bushes and opened fire on the gathered residents.
The incident is said to have occurred on Sunday, April 2.
The victims were all taken to the Wa Regional Hospital, where the survivors are responding to treatment.
Member of Parliament for Wa East Constituency Godfred Seidu Jasaw confirmed the incident but said information is “sketchy”.
Speaking on Midday News on 3FM on Wednesday, April 5, Mr Seidu Jasaw said relative calm has returned to the area, according to the Assembly member he talked to.
He said the matter has been reported to the Upper West Regional Police Command, which is now handling the case.
A manhunt to arrest the gunmen has been launched.
“The police in Wa municipality were alerted and they got on to the scene but the activities had taken place and the assailants had left.
“At the moment, my information is that the case has been reported to the regional police CID.”
There are suspicions that the case may be as a result of simmering chieftaincy and land disputes.
The MP also said some residents suspect the assailants may be galamseyers who are trying to assert their control of the area.
TheKumasi Metropolitan Assemblyhas received a report from the committee tasked to examine the cause of the Kejetia New Market fire incident.
The committee in its report among other things recommended that the epicentre of the fire should be closed indefinitely to make way for further assessment of the damage caused by the inferno and also check the integrity of structures there.
Among the key findings of the committee, it disclosed that against the measures and fire regulations instituted in the market, “there were gas cylinders in the area of the fire that should not have been there”.
It lauded the rescue services provided by emergency service providers including the Ghana National Service and intimated that though they did their best in fighting the inferno, the fire still “caused considerable damage to the structure of the fire-affected area of the building. The flames destroyed goods and properties whilst the upper area of the market structure building suffered from significant smoke staining to the soffit of the roof covering.”
The report also disclosed that the incident damaged about 42 shops out of which 12 recorded severe damages.
Parts of the Kejetia New Market went up in flames on Wednesday, March 15 destroying properties worth thousands of Ghana Cedis.
A Committee was constituted on Friday, March 17 after a visit by a delegation from the Local Government Ministry, led by Osei Bonsu Amoah, same day the Ghana National Fire Service also commenced investigations into the fire incident.
Included in the Committee’s key recommendations are; a renewal of the building permit (mandatory), renewal of the fire permit (mandatory), and renewal of the EPA’s permit (mandatory).
Several traders atKejetia Market F-line, whose stores were shut down owing to a recent fire breakout, have taken down the barricades in opposition to the city authorities.
The angry traders have decided to forcibly enter the barricaded area to resume operation.
City authorities cordoned off the affected area to enable maintenance works to be carried out.
But traders who were not directly affected by the inferno at that section of the market disagree with the decision.
The recent fire at the kejetia market destroyed 33 shops.
City authorities after several meetings placed a ban on businessactivities at the affected area.
Eight hundred and seven shops were cordoned off.
But traders who were not directly affected disagree. Shop owners at Kejetia Market protest closure
Amidst noise making and clad in red, they registered their displeasure against managers of the facility.
They say, they were not directly affected by the fire.
Leader of the affected traders, Andrews Kwofi claims Management has failed to provide alternatives for businesses affected by their decision.
Following a four-day closure, the New Kejetia Market in the Ashanti Region will reopen today.
Last Wednesday, fire destroyed over 30 shops in the market.
Following a meeting with the leadership of the traders, the Ghana National Fire Service agreed to close the facility for a few days to allow for uninterrupted investigations.
The board also ordered that the facility should remain closed for another week.
Reuben Amey, General Secretary of the Kumasi Traders Association, told Citi News that the continuous closure would have harmed their finances.
“Even if they had opened the market yesterday March 20, we would have loved it. We traders are really suffering from the closure of the market. Though we are suffering, we accepted the 3-day closure, but any further delay in the reopening, we will suffer too much. We have already suffered losses when the market was razed by fire”.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) says it is adequately prepared for the resumption of business activities at the New Kejetia Market in the Ashanti Region after the facility was gutted by fire.
Following consultations with stakeholders, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia directed the market’s opening from Tuesday, March 21.
The Vice President announced that the decision had been reversed after preliminary reports ruled out electrical faults as the cause of the inferno.
In an interview with Citi News, ACFO Timothy Osafo-Afum, Head of Public Relations at the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), emphasized the importance of being more safety conscious.
“You don’t learn about what to do where there is an emergency. You must learn it long before the emergency comes, so you apply what you know. So let us be safety conscious and do what is expected of us so that in the time of emergency, we know what exactly to do.”
The deficiencies of the Ghana Fire Service, according toNana Akwasi Prempeh, chairman of the Petty Traders Association, are to blame for the massive damage brought on by the fire that broke out at the Kejetia market on Wednesday.
On March 15, a fire devastated portions of the first and second floors of the market, severely damaging several shops.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, the petty traders’ chairman said the Fire Service cannot absolve itself from the unfortunate damage that was caused by the fire because that would not have happened if the necessary firefighting equipment were put in place at the market.
“If the fire fighting system in the market had been activated earlier, we think the extent of damage that was caused in the market would have reduced drastically because there were instances where we realized that there was no flow of water in the nearby water hydrant. They had locked the water and there was no alarm warning to indicate that there was going to be some fire.”
He added that “there was no alarm system to forewarn the traders, there were no smoke detectors and there were no fire detectors to alert the market traders of the looming damage.”
On his part, the Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, ACFO1 Henry Giwah, explained that management of the market had some lapses in its readiness to fight fire outbreaks.
“We identified some lapses, we informed management of the market, and they promised to fix it for which reason we have not even renewed their certificate. We were going to make sure those things are rectified first before the outbreak happened.”
Following a fire that destroyed portions of the market on Wednesday afternoon, Wednesday March 16, the New Kejetia Market has been temporarily shut down by its managers.
This is to allow appropriate authorities assess the facility for more investigation after the fire that tore through parts of the enclave on Wednesday.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started on the first floor in a section where combustible materials are sold.
It took firefighters several hours to fully control the situation.
The Ashanti Regional Director for the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Frank Duodu says traders should allow the closure for proper assessment of the incident.
“Activities at the market cannot be carried out today until 12pm. That is what we are recommending for proper works will be carried out so I am not sure business can go on in the early hours”, he said.
In an interview with Citi News, Ashanti Regional Fire Commander ACFO 1 Henry Giwaa advised traders and members of the public to be cautious when dealing with combustibles.
He also emphasized the importance of calling the Fire Department early, in the event of a fire.
“Averagely, we have counted about 33 shops that have been affected. Investigation is underway. It started right after we arrived here. So, when we are done, we will let the public know. Just as we have been educating every now and then, the public should immediately call as soon as there is an outbreak because even with this incident, the call came in from our National Headquarters in Accra before we were able to dispatch when we are just here.”
The fire comes barely a week after some parts of the market got flooded after a downpour.
Information reaching our news desk is that Kejetia Market in Kumasi of the Ashanti Region has caught fire.
Per reports, the Dubai section of the market caught fire at 4:30pm.
It is currently unknown the damages caused by the fire and what exactly led to the incident. But some individuals are said to have collapsed and have been transported to the Komfo Ankoye Teaching Hospital.
Officers of the Ghana National Fire Service are currently at the scene to douse the flames. Also, the Ambulance Service is present to offer first aid service.
Traders are busily salvaging items that have not been torched.
According to reports, the fire is currently under control.
In the early hours of Wednesday, a guy who cannot be named was killed by fire at the Akere Auto Spare Parts Market in the Lagos State neighborhood of Olodi-Apapa.
The early-morning blaze, which reportedly lasted for hours, also burned numerous shops and commodities worth millions of naira.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the incident and that the cause of the inferno was yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report
The Director ,Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service ,Margaret Adeseue said “At about 03:28 Wednesday wee hours, a Fire outbreak was alerted to Akere Spare Parts Market, Kirikiri Road, Akere Bus Stop, Olodi-Apapa, Ajegunle, Lagos that saw the Ajegunle Fire Station of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service as first respondent.’
She added that “Upon arrival, it was discovered that rows of shops that traded in auto spare parts was well alight that led to Sari-Iganmu and Ilupeju Fire crews of the Alagency joining up to subdued the raging Fire and salvage a nearby major market Petroleum Filling Station with a fully loaded 33,000 liters PMS tanker amongst other adjoining buildings.
“However, a male adult was recovered by the Tolu Police Division of the Nigerian Police around the scene while the Lagos Neighborhood and Safety Corps and the Red Cross were also in attendance.” she added
Adeseye also stated that ” The cause of the Fire will required details investigation to ascertained as well as post incident enumeration to account for the number of lockup shops and wares lost.”
Authorities in Bangladesh are looking into what started a large fire that left 12,000 Rohingya refugees without a place to stay.
There have been no recorded injuries, but according to officials, the fire on Sunday destroyed 2,000 shelters after quickly spreading through cooking gas cylinders.
Police are investigating if the fire was an act of sabotage. One man has been detained, local media reported.
The camp in the south-east is believed to be the world’s largest refugee camp.
Most of its residents, Rohingya refugees, had fled persecution in neighbouring Myanmar.
On Monday, hundreds had returned to the Cox’s Bazar area to see what they could salvage from the ruins.
The blaze had started at about 14:45 local time Sunday (08:45 GMT) and quickly tore through the bamboo-and-tarpaulin shelters, an official said.
“Some 2,000 shelters have been burnt, leaving about 12,000 forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals shelterless,” Mijanur Rahman, Bangladesh’s refugee commissioner, told AFP news agency.
The blaze was brought under control within three hours but at least 35 mosques and 21 learning centres for the refugees were also destroyed, he added.
Photos are now emerging that show the extent of the devastation.
Many of those who lived there can be seen picking through the charred area, where only metal struts and singed corrugated roofing remains.
Hrusikesh Harichandan, from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told the BBC there had been “massive damage” to the camp.
He said basic services such as water centres and testing facilities had also been affected.
“My shelter was gutted. [My shop] was also burnt,” Mamun Johar, a 30-year-old Rohingya man, told AFP.
“The fire took everything from me, everything.”
Thick black clouds were seen rising above Camp 11, one of many in the border district where more than a million Rohingya refugees live.
It will be difficult to relocate the estimated 12,000 people affected by the fire – given the already overcrowded conditions in the “mega camp”, said Hardin Lang from Refugees International.
Delivering basic services to those people in other parts of the camp would also be a challenge because many services – health clinics, schools – have been destroyed.
“This is in essence an acute incident on what was already a chronically very vulnerable and precariously poised population,” he told the BBC.
The camps, overcrowded and squalid, have long been vulnerable to fires.
Between January 2021 and December 2022, there were 222 fire incidents in the Rohingya camps including 60 cases of arson, according to a Bangladesh defence ministry report released last month.
In March 2021, at least 15 people were killed and some 50,000 were displaced after a huge fire tore through a camp in the settlement.
The refugee camp houses people who fled from Myanmar following a military crackdown against the Rohingya ethnic minority.
The Rohingya are Muslims in largely Buddhist Myanmar, where they have faced persecution for generations.
The latest exodus of Rohingya escaping to Bangladesh began in August 2017, after Myanmar’s military brutally retaliated when a Rohingya insurgent group launched attacks on several police posts.
A fire event that took place on Wednesday in Kurni Market in Kano State, Northwest Nigeria, has resulted in the destruction of numerous shops.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Saminu Abdullahi, the Kano State Fire Service’s public relations officer, verified this.
According to Abdullahi, the fire service received an emergency call at about 5:23 am from one Aliyu Alkasim who drew their attention to the outbreak.
He said no life was lost in the incident and that firefighters were deployed to the market immediately but added that the cause of the incident was still being investigated.
He said, “Today, Wednesday March 1, 2023, our control room received an emergency call at about 05:23 am from one Aliyu Alkasim. He reported an outbreak of fire at Kurmi Market, Kano Municipal Area.
“We turned out our men from various fire stations within the metropolitan area. On their arrival at the scene of the incident at about 05:27 am, the area affected by the fire was about 160 X 100 feet.”
“With good effort of their men, the service was able to successfully save several shops within the market area and no injury was recorded and no life was lost.”
“The general public should always switch off all electrical appliances and disconnect from the source when not in use and avoid careless use of naked fire throughout the market premises,” he added.
A seven-bedroom residential apartment in Nkontwima, Tafo Municipality,Ashanti Region, has been destroyed by fire.
The children and some adults who were in the house when the fire started at about 9 am on February 18 drew the attention of neighbours who came to help contain the situation.
Fire officers were later called in when the fire became intense and spread to other rooms in theapartment.
Narrating the incident to Citi News, Bremang Fire Commander, D.O 3 Selase Prosper Avevor blamed the cause of the fire on a deep freezer “which had most of their food items and was connected to an extension board and the socket to which that extension board was connected to had a fault which was being worked on. It resulted in sparks and because there were many materials in the room that was combustible, the sparks triggered and ignited the fire and because there were no gabbles in the house too, the fire quickly spread to other rooms in the house.”
D.O 3 Selase Avevor also indicated that the fire was able to cause that much damage because the residents in the apartment tried to fight the inferno all by themselves until it was too late to call the Fire Service.
“They were trying to tackle the fire on their own without drawing our attention. If they had called the Fire Service early, we would have been here to contain the fire.”
He advised the public to be careful how they handle naked fires and electrical faults and cautioned that high voltage-consuming gadgets shouldn’t be passed through extension boards so as to prevent such fire outbreaks.
A residential fire at Abuakwa in the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality of the Ashanti Region have claimed the lives of a family of three.
The unfortunate incident involves a 28-year-old mother, Abigail Manu, and her two daughters, Nora Yeboah and Philipa Yeboah who were 9 and 6 years respectively.
According to eyewitnesses, two other family members in the house were able to escape, but the three were trapped inside and were burnt to death in the process.
The intervention of officers prevented the fire from spreading to neighbouring houses.
The affected house has been completely destroyed.
An eyewitness, Stephen Wundomor told Citi News “we heard the victims screaming and calling for help but were only able to rescue two out of the five persons who were trapped in the fire.”
This comes a few weeks after a police officer and his family perished in a similar fire incident at Apromase in the Ashanti region.
Fire has razed down a 14-bedroom apartment at Odomase, in the Sunyani West Municipal capital, destroying personal belongings and property running into thousands of Ghana cedis.
The Assistant Divisional Officer Grade Two (ADOII) Kwame Adomako, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Bono Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the fire started around 2000 hours on Thursday January 5, 2023.
He said people around the neighbourhood were able to rescue the only woman in one of the apartments when the fire started.
Unfortunately, when the personnel of the GNFS reached the scene, the fire had already assumed a dangerous dimension, he stated.
The massive fire in Khimki, which is close to the Russian capital of Moscow, destroyed the entire shopping centre.
One of the biggest shopping malls in Moscow was completely destroyed by a massive fire that claimed at least one life.
According to authorities, the fire broke out in the Mega shopping centre in Khimki, northwest of the Russian capital, and covered an area of about 7,000 square metres.
Firefighters’ attempts to put out the flames were hampered because the fire caused part of the building to collapse.
It broke out before the centre opened to customers.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said it was looking into the cause of the fire.
Officials initially said arson may have been involved.
But, authorities later said the blaze appeared to have been sparked by welding that apparently violated safety regulations, with a probe launched.
The shopping centre used to house a number of Western shops, including IKEA, before the chains pulled out of Russia in the wake of the Ukraine conflict.
London Fire Brigade is “institutionally misogynist and racist”, according to a damning review of its culture.
A black firefighter had a noose put by his locker, while a female one received a video of a colleague exposing himself.
The independent review was established by the London Fire Commissioner after a trainee firefighter took his own life in August 2020.
Commissioner Andy Roe said there was no place for discrimination, harassment and bullying in the brigade.
“From today it will be completely clear to all staff what behaviour isn’t acceptable and what the consequences will be,” he added.
‘Grim reading’
The review, conducted by the former Chief Crown Prosecutor for north-west England, Nazir Afzal, concludes that unless the “toxic culture” is tackled then other firefighters will take their own lives.
It lists a number of instances of abuse and poor behaviour at almost all levels of London Fire Brigade (LFB), including:
Multiple cases of bullying “and the targeting of ethnic minorities and women” with some complaints not investigated
Women “sexually taunted”, including one who received video calls from a man exposing his genitalia
Men “huddled around a screen watching porn” at some fire stations
Talking to the BBC, Mr Afzal said the report made for “grim reading”.
“We’ve heard example after example about women who were harassed or sexually assaulted – constant sexual taunting to the point that I am now saying that the London Fire Brigade is institutionally misogynist,” Mr Afzal said.
“In addition to the misogyny, there is an enormous amount of racism. One black man had a noose put up above his locker, another Muslim officer had bacon rolled on his plate before he ate.
“Women told us they were told [by male firefighters]: ‘We want to get you out of here, we don’t want you to be a fire officer.’ It goes back to the whole fireman concept.
“I sat with a very senior female officerwho said to me, through tears, that whenever she goes through a dangerous incident, she’s always thinking: ‘Will the men have my back? Will the men around me protect me given how they have treated me back at the station?
“If they feel they can’t trust the men around them because of their behaviour or misbehaviour and worse, then they aren’t safe and neither are we.”
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, The behaviour of some staff “left a clear trail of psychological harm”, the report found
The report also found that while there was often “considerable sensitivity” in the brigade around issues of race, there appeared to be “a worrying blind spot” concerning misogyny and sexism.
One firefighter told the review that she advised her female friends not to let male firefighters in the house to give safety advice because “they go through women’s drawers looking for underwear and sex toys”.
The review recommends firefighters now wear body-worn videos for home visits.
The behaviour of some brigade staff “left a clear trail of psychological harm”, the report said.
Mr Afzal said the racism, misogyny and bullying identified within the LFB were far more widespread.
Speaking to the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said he was approached by other fire brigades and organisations as he undertook the review.
“People telling me please, please come and have a look at my culture.
“I ask anyone who’s rushing to judgement on London Fire Brigade to look in the mirror and look at themselves because they will see similar things happening.
“Their staff need the same support and protection that London Fire Brigade need to provide to theirs.”
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said in a statement the report confirmed concerns it had raised over many years.
Image caption, The review, written by Nazir Afzal, concludes that unless the “toxic culture” is tackled then other firefighters will take their lives
Gareth Cook, FBU’s regional organiser for London, said morale and engagement at LFB was low.
He said 40% said they were frustrated in their job with staff shortages, no leave availability and poor work-life balance.
He added: “We have raised concerns about many of the issues contained within this report historically and as a consequence we remain sceptical about the changes senior leaders will implement with regards to their own behaviours.”
LFB Commissioner Mr Roe told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he was “horrified” and “heartbroken” to read the report.
‘Change starts now’
Asked if he agreed with the review’s finding the organisation was institutionally misogynist and racist, he said: “I think when 2,000 of your staff have written that story you can’t deny any of it. I accept the report in full, I accept all the recommendations.
“There will be change and the change starts now.”
“From Monday we are putting externally into the hands of independent experts all of our complaint, harassment, bullying investigations,” he added.
Mr Roe said he hoped employees would have the confidence to raise concerns and the organisation would “take action against people who let the service down.”
Even seniority appears not to have insulated some women from abuse: former Commissioner Dany Cotton, who became the first woman to lead LFB, said she had received death threats following an anti-sexism campaign she was promoting.
Despite a series of failings, the review found most participants thought their workplace was “supportive and friendly”.
It also found examples of “good leadership” including people who “went out of their way to build inclusive environments and operate a zero-tolerance policy around discrimination” but described it as “uneven and patchy” across the brigade.
‘Watershed moment’
Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff felt they “must work twice as hard to be seen and heard”, the report said, adding that non-white staff were more likely to be disciplined and less likely to be promoted.
In one instance a Muslim firefighter was spoken to in an Indian accent by his colleagues and had a piece of bacon put in his sandwich.
When he transferred to another watch, his colleagues put a pork sausage in his pocket, the report said. He subsequently had a terrorism hotline sticker placed on his locker, but his complaints were dismissed. He eventually collapsed at work and was admitted to the hospital, and has since been diagnosed with PTSD and has had suicidal thoughts.
The Grenfell Tower fire was described as having a “seismic impact on the culture of LFB”, particularly on the mental health of staff.
North Kensington fire station, which is less than a mile from the tower, was “widely recognised as a supportive station with a strong and diverse culture”.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the details of misogyny and racism were “abhorrent” and said the findings of Mr Afzal’s review “must be nothing short of a watershed moment for the London Fire Brigade.”
More than a dozen people were killed early Saturday after a firetore through a Russian nightclub.
According to the Associated Press, the incident took place at around 2:30 a.m. at Polygon—a single-story venue located in the city of Kostroma. Shortly after the blaze broke out, about 250 people were evacuated from the building, which is also used as a bar and cafe bar. Authorities say the blaze left at least 15 people dead and five others injured.
Local outlets say the roof of the venue collapsed during the fire, while emergency personnel attempted to extinguish the flames, treat victims, and search for a suspect. Investigators say they believe the fire began after a patron shot a flare gun after a woman rejected his advances.
“He was spending time in the bar with a woman, ordered her flowers, with a flare gun in his hands,” a witness told TASS news agency, as reported by Al Jazeera. “Then he went to the dance floor and fired it.”
Police have reportedly identified and detained the suspect.
“As a result of complex operational-search measures, police officers identified and detained a suspect in an unlawful act in one of the entertainment establishments in the city of Kostroma, which caused a fire and death of people,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs Media said in a statement.
“Currently, the suspect has been handed over to the investigating authorities.”
Russia’s emergency ministry officials said the building has not had a recent a fire safety inspection, as it’s considered a small business.
