A devastating fire broke out at the North Industrial Area in Avenor, Accra, Ghana, on Thursday, with thick black smoke billowing over the city's skyline. The inferno, which started at around 7 a.m., ravaged warehouses, melted water tanks, and reduced makeshift wooden structures to ash. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), with support from various agencies, battled to confine the fire.
The fire, believed to have started from a small gas cylinder used by one of the squatters, quickly spread to nearby factories, including Ashfoam Ghana, a mattress and furniture manufacturing company, and Duraplast Limited, a plastics manufacturer. Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion of the gas cylinder sparked the fire, which then spread rapidly due to the highly combustible materials stored in the area.
The North Industrial Area at Avenor is a hub for light manufacturing in Accra, housing foam factories, plastics factories, cable manufacturers, and warehouses storing high-capacity plastic water tanks and other combustible materials. These businesses employ thousands of people and supply markets across West Africa. However, the presence of unauthorized wooden structures and squatters in the area has raised concerns about safety and enforcement.
The response to the fire was hampered by numerous trucks parked along the road, which prevented direct access to the fire front. The GNFS team had to take a longer route to approach the fire from the rear. This incident has highlighted the failure of spatial planning and enforcement in the area, with various stakeholders, including the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Factory Inspectorate, sharing responsibility.
The emergency services, including the GNFS, the Ghana Police Service, and the National Ambulance Service, responded promptly to the incident, with dozens of fire engines and private water tankers deployed to the scene. Squatters and residents were evacuated, and the coordination was exemplary. However, concerns have been raised about the GNFS's access to fire hydrants with adequate pressure in the industrial area.
The environmental impact of the fire has also been highlighted, with burning plastics releasing toxic fumes, including dioxins. The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has assured that squatters will not be allowed to return and debris will be cleared. The AMA has also promised to conduct a full audit of all industrial enclaves in Accra and demolish unauthorized structures in buffer zones.
The Avenor fire has been described as a tragedy foretold, with many questioning why the risk was not mitigated earlier. The incident has emphasized the need for prevention rather than response, with the GNFS urged to publish a fire risk map of Accra and be empowered to close down facilities and settlements that pose imminent danger.
Key points
- The fire highlighted the failure of spatial planning and enforcement in the North Industrial Area at Avenor.
- The incident has emphasized the need for prevention rather than response to mitigate fire risks.
- The environmental impact of the fire has raised concerns about the release of toxic fumes.
