GNFS: Tudu fire extremely difficult to contain
Firefighters responding to Wednesday night’s blaze at the Accra Central Police Station in Tudu were forced to contend with a series of dangerous obstacles that turned the operation into one of the most demanding emergency responses in recent months, according to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
While the fire was eventually brought under control, officials say the conditions on the ground presented significant risks to personnel and complicated efforts to prevent the flames from spreading.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Assistant Divisional Officer Alex King Nartey described the incident as a complex operation involving multiple hazards that had to be managed simultaneously.
Among the most immediate threats were explosions triggered by combustible materials stored within the affected facility.
“With the Tudu fire, when we got there, we had to grapple with a lot of gas explosions. The explosions were very intense because they had stored gas cylinders there, and there were several deep freezers as well. These freezers contain gases that explode when exposed to extreme heat,” he explained.
The dangerous conditions were compounded by the presence of live electrical connections around the scene. According to the Fire Service, electricity remained active in parts of the affected area while firefighters were battling the blaze, exposing emergency personnel to additional danger.
“Because there was electricity, our officers kept receiving electric shocks as they tried to fight the fire. That made the operation extremely difficult,” he said.
Beyond the physical hazards posed by the fire itself, emergency crews also had to navigate challenges involving access and crowd management. Mr Nartey said large numbers of people gathered around the scene, forcing firefighters and police officers to divide their attention between emergency response and maintaining order.
“The interference from people around the scene made our work more difficult because we had to undertake crowd control together with our police colleagues while ensuring we had access to the heart of the fire,” he stated.
Water supply constraints also emerged as a major concern during the operation. The Fire Service revealed that firefighters had limited access to hydrants in the area, reducing the options available for sustained firefighting efforts.
“The absence of hydrants in the vicinity was another challenge. We had only one fire hydrant available within the police station compound,” he said.
The emergency unfolded against the backdrop of a heavy rainstorm that affected several parts of Accra on Wednesday evening. According to the GNFS, the adverse weather conditions coincided with multiple incidents across the capital, placing considerable pressure on emergency response resources.
Mr Nartey disclosed that while crews were battling the Tudu blaze, other teams were simultaneously responding to separate fire outbreaks as well as reports of a collapsed storey building.
The overlapping emergencies stretched personnel and equipment at a time when rapid intervention was critical across several locations.
Despite the difficulties, firefighters succeeded in containing the flames and preventing the incident from escalating into a larger disaster that could have threatened nearby structures and businesses.
In the aftermath of the fire, the GNFS has renewed calls for stronger fire prevention measures, particularly in densely populated commercial areas. The Service is also urging authorities and property owners to improve emergency infrastructure, including the installation and maintenance of accessible fire hydrants, while ensuring the safe storage of gas cylinders and other potentially hazardous materials.
Officials believe such measures could significantly improve response times and reduce risks during future emergencies.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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