The Ghana National Fire Service has denied claims that firefighters arrived at the Accra Central Police Annex fire scene without water. Speaking on the issue, Greater Accra Regional Fire Officer ACFO II Rashid Kwame Nisawu said allegations suggesting fire tenders reached the scene empty were inaccurate and did not reflect standard firefighting procedures.
The Greater Accra Officer, ACFO II Nisawu, explained that every fire engine is designed to remain fully loaded with water while stationed at a fire station. He stated that the Service follows strict operational procedures before any emergency vehicle is dispatched to a fire outbreak.
Addressing public concerns, the Fire Commander indicated that water availability on fire tenders was never a challenge during the operation. He added that firefighting involves a coordinated system that allows crews to discharge water while simultaneously replenishing supplies through nearby hydrants.
“The fire engine is designed in such a way that as soon as it is parked at a fire station, it is supposed to be fully loaded with water. We do not have a situation where you come to the fire ground and then there is no water.”
ACFO II Rashid Kwame Nisawu
Furthermore, ACFO II Nisawu explained that firefighters connect hoses from the pump to the fire scene while another connection links the hydrant to the pump. He noted that the arrangement ensures a continuous flow of water during firefighting operations whenever hydrants are functioning effectively.
The Regional Fire Officer observed that challenges only emerge when hydrants are unavailable or unable to supply water. In such circumstances, fire engines are required to leave briefly to replenish their tanks before returning to continue operations.
Meanwhile, the Fire Commander disclosed that several firefighting resources were deployed to contain the blaze. He revealed that five fire engines and a water tanker from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly were mobilised to support efforts at the scene.
The Greater Accra Officer therefore dismissed assertions that firefighters struggled because of empty tanks. He argued that the scale of the deployment clearly demonstrated the Service’s readiness to respond to the emergency.
“Yesterday, those of you who came around could bear with us that we had five fire engines here and an AMA tanker. So for anybody to say there was no water, that is not true.”
ACFO II Rashid Kwame Nisawu
On casualties, ACFO II Nisawu confirmed that no resident was harmed during the incident. He, however, stated that one firefighter sustained injuries while responding to the emergency and was rushed to the Police Hospital for treatment.
The Fire Commander disclosed that the injured officer is receiving medical attention and showing signs of recovery. Additionally, he assured the public that updates would be provided when necessary.
Regarding investigations, ACFO II Nisawu indicated that officers were working to establish the cause of the fire. He explained that while the National Disaster Management Organisation and the Assembly would handle debris related matters, the Fire Service is focused on determining what triggered the blaze.
The Regional Fire Officer added that investigations could be concluded within a short period or take longer depending on findings gathered from the scene. He stressed that the Service would only communicate conclusions after a thorough assessment has been completed.
Firefighters Contain Major Blaze Amid Access Challenges
The Ghana National Fire Service confirmed that one firefighter was injured while battling the devastating fire that swept through the Accra Central Police Barracks Annex and surrounding properties. The incident destroyed dozens of rooms and caused extensive damage to buildings and their contents.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Alex King Nartey, disclosed that the injured firefighter remains the only casualty recorded during the operation. He stated that emergency personnel acted swiftly to prevent further destruction despite difficult conditions.
According to the Service, firefighters from the Accra City Fire Station responded after receiving a distress call at about 8:05 p.m. on Wednesday. The first crew arrived two minutes later and encountered a fully developed fire that needed an immediate reinforcement.
Additional teams from the Ministries, Parliament, Industrial Area and Circle Fire Stations subsequently joined the operation. A water tanker from the Assembly was also deployed to support firefighting efforts.
Alex King Nartey explained that the injured officer suffered chest injuries during the emergency response. He said the accident occurred after the metallic end of a fire hose detached from the pump and struck the firefighter.
Despite the scale of the blaze, firefighters succeeded in protecting several nearby facilities from destruction. The operation prevented the flames from spreading to the Ghana Water Limited facility and adjoining structures within the area.
The GNFS reported that the fire was confined at 10:29 p.m. and brought under control at 11:50 p.m. Firefighters eventually extinguished the blaze completely at 3:41 a.m. on Thursday after hours of intensive work.
The incident caused severe damage to the Accra Central Police Barracks Annex where 32 rooms and their contents were destroyed. A one storey building within the affected zone was also consumed by the fire.
“The challenge was accessibility because you realise that in that area working through it on a regular day is not even easy. How much more a fire tender with this big tank? Interference from people proved to be a very big challenge because people were not giving us the room to operate.”
Alex King Nartey
According to the PRO, firefighters have succeeded in containing the blaze and are examining the scene to establish what sparked the outbreak.
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