A devastating fire broke out early on Thursday at Duraplast's facility in the North Industrial Area at Avenor, Accra, causing significant losses for the company. According to Emmanuel Donkor, Marketing Manager of Duraplast, the fire gutted the company's warehouse, destroying its entire stock of pipes. The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
Mr. Donkor revealed that he arrived at the office at about 6:45 am and was informed that a fire had started at the company's annex. He and some colleagues immediately responded to the scene and called the fire service. Although two fire engines initially arrived, they struggled to contain the blaze, which had already gained significant intensity.
The Marketing Manager attributed the intensity of the fire partly to the presence of illegal structures behind the company's premises, which hindered firefighting efforts. He also disclosed that Duraplast's firefighting hydrants on its premises were empty at the time of the incident, forcing the company to seek assistance from Ghana Water.
The company's attempts to salvage some of its products were unsuccessful, as the pipes, made of petrol products, easily got burnt. Despite deploying a forklift to move the pipes away from the flames, the efforts were unable to prevent extensive destruction. Mr. Donkor described the company's losses as "enormous," with the entire stock of pipes destroyed.
The fire at Duraplast's facility in Avenor has triggered concerns about the safety of businesses in the area. The incident has also raised questions about the effectiveness of fire safety measures in place. Further investigations are needed to determine the cause of the fire and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The impact of the fire on Duraplast's operations and the livelihoods of its employees is yet to be assessed. The company's ability to recover from the losses and resume normal operations is uncertain. The incident has also sparked discussions about the need for businesses to prioritize fire safety and emergency preparedness.
The Ghana National Fire Service and other relevant authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety and the need for businesses to take proactive measures to prevent such incidents.
Key points
- The fire at Duraplast's facility in Avenor has destroyed the company's entire stock of pipes, resulting in significant losses.
- The presence of illegal structures behind the company's premises and empty firefighting hydrants hindered firefighting efforts.
- The cause of the fire is yet to be established, and further investigations are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
