A preliminary investigation by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has revealed that a recent power outage triggered the devastating fire that engulfed the Zone 21 Garage at Suame Magazine in Kumasi.The inferno, which broke out on Friday night, destroyed at least 25 shops and 34 vehicles, including 17 saloon cars, nine minibuses, eight heavy-duty trucks, and a pickup.

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The affected businesses were engaged in battery servicing, welding, spraying, lubrication, and lathe machine operations.Public Relations Officer of the GNFS in the Ashanti Region, D.O. II Peter Addai, attributed the fire to an electrical spark from a service pole after power was restored following a blackout.“There was light off around that area in the evening of Friday.

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When the light came back, there were some sparks in the service pole which is close to a workshop. When the spark fell on the shop it started the fire and spread to other portions of that area,” he told Luv FM’s David Akuetteh.The blaze quickly spread due to flammable substances in the area, particularly oils left on the ground.

the fire got to the shop, it burnt the oil and

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crossed the street to other vehicles and shops that were there, and they also caught fire,” he added.Logistics Constraints Hampering Firefighting EffortsThe Ashanti Region has been grappling with a series of fire outbreaks, including incidents at the Kejetia Market, Asafo Market, and Kwadaso Wood Market. A separate fire in Dagomba Line, a suburb of Asawase, recently claimed the life of a three-year-old child.

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So far in 2025, the region has recorded 183 fire cases. However, the fire service continues to face serious logistical challenges, with only 15 functioning fire tenders available to serve 43 districts.Fire officers have reiterated their urgent need for more resources to effectively respond to the increasing number of fire incidents in the region.

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