Fire erupts at Kumasi New Kejetia Market shop, causes damage

A fire outbreak at the Kumasi New Kejetia Market has caused significant damage to goods at a retail shop on the first floor, although swift intervention by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) prevented the incident from escalating into a larger market disaster.

According to information shared by the GNFS on Facebook, the fire affected shop F2230, resulting in extensive smoke and heat damage to merchandise, including hundreds of boxes of matches and other highly flammable retail items.

The emergency response was rapid, with nine firefighters led by Station Officer I Maxwell Partey arriving at the scene within two minutes of receiving the distress call. Upon arrival, the team was confronted with thick smoke billowing from the affected shop, prompting an immediate containment operation to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent stalls.

Firefighters deployed portable extinguishers alongside the market’s installed hose reel system to bring the situation under control. The blaze was successfully contained at approximately 08:48 a.m. and fully extinguished by 09:00 a.m., demonstrating a fast and coordinated response in a densely packed commercial environment.

Despite the quick action, the shop sustained considerable losses. Items destroyed or severely damaged included about 250 boxes of matches, nail polish chemicals, and 10 deodorant containers. Fire officials noted that most of the damage was caused by intense smoke and heat exposure rather than direct flames.

Although some goods were salvaged, authorities estimate that significant inventory was lost, while goods worth millions of Ghana cedis were saved due to the timely intervention of the fire service.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been triggered by the spontaneous ignition of flammable materials stored together in a poorly ventilated space, a risk factor often associated with dense trading environments like the Kejetia Market.

Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were recorded. The incident, however, caused temporary alarm among traders and shoppers in one of Ghana’s busiest commercial hubs, highlighting ongoing concerns about fire safety compliance and storage practices within market complexes.

GNFS officials are expected to continue investigations to determine the exact cause and recommend preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.