Firefighter injured as overnight blaze ravages police barracks annex in Accra
An overnight firefighting operation in central Accra left one firefighter injured after a major blaze tore through residential structures at the Accra Central Police Barracks Annex, destroying dozens of rooms and causing extensive property damage.
The fire, which broke out on Wednesday evening in the Accra Water Works area, triggered a large-scale emergency response involving multiple fire stations as crews worked for several hours to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby facilities.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), emergency personnel were dispatched shortly after receiving reports of the incident at about 8:05 p.m. The first responders arrived within minutes and encountered an intense fire that had already engulfed significant portions of the affected buildings.
The severity of the situation prompted reinforcement from several fire stations across the capital, including teams from the Ministries, Parliament, Industrial Area and Circle Fire Stations. A water tanker was also deployed to support the operation.
As firefighters battled the blaze, one officer sustained serious injuries in the line of duty. The injured firefighter was transported to the Police Hospital, where he received emergency medical attention.
“He is currently in stable condition and responding well to treatment,” the Service said.
The fire caused widespread destruction within the police residential facility, leaving 32 rooms damaged beyond use. A nearby one-storey building was also affected, with both the structure and its contents destroyed by the flames.
Despite the scale of the outbreak, emergency crews succeeded in preventing what could have been an even larger disaster. Firefighters managed to stop the blaze from reaching neighbouring properties, including installations belonging to Ghana Water Limited.
“Firefighters successfully prevented the fire from spreading to the nearby Ghana Water Limited facility and other adjoining structures, thereby averting further losses,” the GNFS stated.
The operation extended well into the early hours of Thursday. Firefighters first succeeded in containing the spread of the blaze before eventually bringing it under control and later extinguishing the remaining hotspots.
Authorities have confirmed that no deaths were recorded in the incident.
Investigators are expected to examine the scene to determine what triggered the fire, with the cause yet to be officially established.
The incident adds to growing concerns over fire outbreaks in densely populated sections of the capital and highlights the risks faced by emergency personnel who respond to such emergencies under challenging conditions.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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