A raging fire that tore through the China City Mall at Santasi in Kumasi on Thursday, October 30, has exposed worrying lapses in the facility’s fire safety preparedness.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has confirmed that the six-month-old mall had been operating without essential fire safety installations, including a fire hydrant or a mechanised borehole.
Head of Public Relations at the GNFS, Divisional Officer (DO II) Desmond E. Ackah, revealed that the absence of these critical systems greatly hampered firefighting efforts and fueled the rapid spread of the blaze.
“Unfortunately, there was no fire hydrant. Once an establishment meets the basic fire safety requirements, it is permitted to begin operations.
However, compliance is progressive — from less costly measures to more capital-intensive ones,” Mr. Ackah explained in an interview on Friday, October 31.
He added that the mall’s management had yet to install a hydrant or provide an alternative water storage facility, despite being aware of the requirement.
“They were supposed to have a fire hydrant or an alternative water storage system, but that hasn’t been done.
They opened just six months ago, and perhaps due to the cost involved, those installations were delayed,” he said.
According to Mr. Ackah, the inferno could have been contained much earlier if the necessary water systems were available.
He further lamented that some members of the public obstructed fire personnel during the operation, which also slowed response efforts.
The GNFS spokesperson emphasised that the incident underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations and increased public education on emergency response protocols.
The devastating fire completely destroyed the mall, which housed several shops dealing in groceries, electronics, and household items.
Billows of smoke were visible from several kilometres away as firefighters battled the flames for hours.
Despite the extensive damage, authorities confirmed that there were no casualties.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
