A devastating fire outbreak at Suame Magazine Zone 18 near the garages in Kumasi has claimed the life of a 70-year-old woman and destroyed several properties in the early hours of Saturday, May 16, 2026.
According to the Ashanti Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service, the fire broke out around 3:22 a.m., prompting an emergency response from firefighters at the Breman Fire Station after a distress call reported a raging blaze involving structures, vehicles, and vehicle spare parts within the busy commercial enclave.
A combined team from the Breman and Komfo Anokye Fire Stations, led by Station Officer One Ampaabeng, was immediately dispatched to the scene with firefighting appliances and arrived within minutes to battle the inferno.
Fire officers said the blaze had already spread aggressively before their arrival, engulfing three wooden structures, three metal containers, four vehicles, and nine DAF vehicle engines.
The firefighters quickly adopted both offensive and defensive firefighting strategies to prevent the flames from spreading further to nearby workshops and vehicles within the densely populated industrial area.
Their efforts brought the fire under control at about 3:59 a.m., while complete extinguishment was achieved at approximately 4:51 a.m. using both water and foam.
Tragically, a 70-year-old woman identified as Madam Bawama Naya became trapped in the fire and lost her life. Her charred remains were later retrieved from the scene and handed over to personnel from the Ghana Police Service at the Suame District Command for preservation and further investigations.
Despite the extensive destruction, firefighters managed to salvage three Sprinter buses, one Smiling Benz bus, and an Opanka bus from being consumed by the flames
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Ghana National Fire Service has meanwhile urged operators within industrial and commercial areas to strictly observe fire safety regulations and precautionary measures to avoid similar tragedies and protect lives and property.
