KUMASI: CHINA CITY MALL HAD NO FIRE HYDRANT – GNFS PRO

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has disclosed that the China City Mall in Kumasi, which was completely destroyed by fire on Thursday, October 30, operated without a fire hydrant or mechanized borehole – critical safety features that could have helped contain the blaze.

Divisional Officer II Desmond E. Ackah, Head of Public Relations at GNFS, revealed that the absence of these essential water systems significantly hampered firefighting efforts and contributed to the rapid spread of the inferno that gutted the six-month-old commercial facility.

“No, they didn’t have a fire hydrant. Once you meet the basic fire safety requirements, you are permitted to start operation. But the requirement is such that it is progressive, so you move from the less costly one to the high costly one,” Ackah explained during an interview on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Friday.

He noted that while the mall management was expected to eventually install a fire hydrant or alternative water storage system, this had not been completed before the fire erupted. “They were going to be asked to get a fire hydrant or an alternative water storage. But that has not been done. Like I said, they opened just six months ago. Some of these things are capital-intensive, and probably that is why they haven’t done that,” he added.

The GNFS spokesperson emphasized that the fire could have been contained much earlier if proper water systems had been in place. He also criticized members of the public who obstructed fire personnel during the operation, highlighting the need for both stricter enforcement of fire safety standards and improved public awareness of emergency response protocols.

The devastating fire completely destroyed the mall and all merchandise inside, though authorities confirmed no casualties were reported. The incident has raised serious questions about fire safety compliance in newly constructed commercial facilities across Ghana.

Source:NKONKONSA.com