Inadequate supply of water seriously hampered the ability of the Ghana National Fire Service to bring under control, an inferno at a warehouse of stationery retailer Kingdom Book and Stationery.
The fire at the warehouse in Prampram started the morning of Sunday June 4, and raged on for several hours into Monday morning, even though the fire department arrived at the scene soon after it began.
Property running into millions of cedis were reduced to ashes as thick smoke dominated the skyline of the Prampram Township.
The efficiency of the fire service has once again been brought under scrutiny after it emerged that they appeared ill equipped and failed to quench the fire in time to reduce the losses.
Deputy Tema Fire regional commander, Osafo Affum, admits there was a challenge; his men could not fight the fire promptly because of inadequate water supply. He however said they were successful at containing the inferno at the main warehouse which had books and officer furniture.
Mr. Osafo Affum added that the fire spread because the hydrant at the warehouse was faulty so the pressure was not strong enough to effectively fight the blaze.
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