A massive fuel farm fire at the Albert Bosomtwe-Sam Fishing Harbour in Sekondi has been extinguished without any injuries or fatalities.
It took a joint operation by the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority Fire Department, Ghana Navy Fire Service, and Ghana Air Force Fire Service.
Firefighters from the Sekondi Metro Fire Station were the first to arrive, reaching the scene just 10 minutes after receiving the distress call at 4:34 pm on Sunday, June 21. Upon arrival, the crew found a localised fuel storage facility used by fishermen fully engulfed in flames.
A total of four fire tenders and one water tanker were mobilised for the operation, comprising resources from the GNFS, GPHA, Ghana Navy, and Ghana Air Force.
Recognising the high risk posed by the rapidly spreading flammable liquid fire, firefighters deployed strategic containment measures and large volumes of foam concentrate to suppress the flames and volatile vapours. The blaze was brought under control at 6:13 pm and completely extinguished at 8:15 pm despite persistent rainfall.
In a statement, the GNFS said preliminary assessments indicate that two saloon vehicles, five surface fuel tanks, numerous fuel drums, underground fuel storage facilities, and portions of the walls of the GPHA Main Administration Block were damaged by the fire.
Preliminary investigations suggest that torrential rains may have triggered a landslide behind the localised fuel farm, causing trees, rocks, and an active electric power pole to collapse onto the fuel storage facilities.
The impact of the debris and electrical sparks were believed to have ignited fuel vapours, resulting in the fire outbreak. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause.
The swift and tactical response prevented the fire from spreading to the entire fishing harbour, fishing vessels, ECG pylons, and the GPHA main fuel depot, averting what could have been a catastrophic industrial, commercial, and environmental disaster.
Source: graphic.com.gh
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