Ashanti Region: Fire destroys 10 rooms at Anloga; over 20 tenants displaced

A fire at a compound house at Anloga in the Oforikrom Municipality of the Ashanti Region has destroyed properties and displaced occupants.

The fast-moving brush fire ignited just before 14:00 hrs Saturday forcing the Electricity Company of Ghana to cut power supply to adjoining neighbourhoods.

At least 10 out of 13 rooms with shops had burned down but there were no reported injuries, firefighters who battled the blaze told dailymailgh.com.

“KNUST fire engine was dispatched to the scene and on assessment they got to know that one fire engine cannot accomplish the firefighting so they requested for pumps and Manhyia fire tender was dispatched to support the firefighting which was brought under control at 15:44 hrs”, said Manhyia Fire Commander DO I Amos Abban.

Initial investigations indicate that the fire may have been caused by “electrical issues”. Fire officers at the scene also observed that the situation escalated when residents took matters to their own hands.

“Sometimes when the issue comes people try to fight the fire themselves or they don’t call the right number so this might have caused the fire to spread very fast”, the fire officer noted adding that: “It is an old house and we suspect there are some problems with the cable system.”

For affected tenants and residents they are not convinced with the fire service’s account as they recount how the personnel had a tough time to control the blaze.

“They don’t have the equipment. They can’t work with these water holes”, said angry Assemblyman for Anloga West Electoral Area, Hopeson Keku.

“The government must buy equipment for the fire service. They did what they can. The fire hydrants at Anloga area is not functioning, so how can they work? How can you run a country this way? he quizzed.