A major fire that erupted on Sunday, August 4, at Madina’s Ritz Junction near the Redco down washing bay has been officially traced to a gas cylinder explosion, according to fire officials.

The confirmation came from Assistant Chief Fire Officer II (ACFO II) Rashid Kwame Nisawu, the Greater Accra Regional Fire Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS). Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, ACFO II Nisawu provided a detailed account of how the fire started and the challenges firefighters faced in putting it out.

According to him, the fire broke out around 12:36 p.m., and the close proximity of the incident to the Madina Fire Station enabled a swift response.

“People rushed into the fire station reporting a fire outbreak at the Redco down washing bay. When our team arrived, the fire had already begun spreading rapidly due to the wooden nature of the structures in the area,” he recounted.

He confirmed that the explosion that triggered the fire came from a gas cylinder.

“There was an explosion from a gas cylinder which led to the rapid spread of the fire,” ACFO II Nisawu explained, adding that the fire gained momentum quickly due to the highly flammable surroundings.

Recognizing the intensity of the blaze, the Madina Fire Station called for urgent backup.

“In total, we deployed about six fire tenders. Units from Legon, Abelemkpe, and the National Headquarters all joined forces to control the situation, including the rapid intervention team,” he noted.

However, one of the biggest hurdles they faced was the lack of water in the area. According to the Fire Commander, there were no functioning water sources nearby.

“There was no running water around the Redco area. The fire hydrants depend on the main water supply, and since the taps weren’t flowing, our teams had to fetch water from other stations—some even had to go as far as Abelemkpe and the National Headquarters,” he explained.

Despite the challenges, the coordinated efforts of the fire service helped to bring the inferno under control, averting what could have been an even more devastating disaster.

Authorities have urged residents and businesses to exercise greater caution when handling gas and other flammable materials to prevent future incidents.