Firefighters from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) battled through the night to suppress a large blaze that swept through a densely packed area of wooden structures behind Ferro Fabrik Ltd in the Tema Heavy Industrial Area.
The fire, which erupted late Wednesday night, June 18, destroyed more than 500 wooden structures believed to be used for both residential and commercial purposes.
The incident occurred in a mixed-use enclave adjacent to the steel manufacturing plant, raising early concerns about the safety of nearby industrial installations.
Emergency response teams received the first distress alert at 11:52 p.m., and within six minutes, a crew from the Tema Industrial Area Fire Station—led by ADO I Orlando Adablanu—was on site. Fire suppression efforts commenced immediately upon arrival and continued for several hours.
The flames were brought under control by 1:59 a.m., and full extinguishment was achieved by 5:43 a.m. on Thursday, June 19.
To bolster the operation, additional fire engines were dispatched from six surrounding fire stations: Tema Metro, Motorway, Ashaiman, Newtown, Devtraco, and BOST.
These reinforcements played a critical role in containing the fire and shielding adjacent factories, including Ferro Fabrik Ltd, from damage.
While a portion of the affected structures was salvaged, the majority were consumed by the flames, with occupants reportedly losing personal belongings, merchandise, and tools.
Fire crews faced significant challenges navigating the tightly packed layout and the flammable nature of the building materials.
The regional response was coordinated under the supervision of Tema Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer II Patrick Sallah, with support from senior GNFS personnel and other allied agencies.
No fatalities or injuries were reported during the incident. The origin of the fire remains undetermined, and investigations are currently underway to ascertain the cause.
Watch videos below
