Suame Magazine fire claims one life, destroys properties

A commercial fire outbreak at Suame Magazine Zone 18 near the garages in Kumasi has claimed the life of a 70-year-old woman and destroyed several properties.

According to the Ashanti Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, May 16, 2026.

The Breman Fire Station received a distress call at 0322 hours reporting a fire involving structures, vehicles and vehicle spare parts within the area.

A combined fire crew from the Breman and Komfo Anokye Fire Stations, led by Station Officer One (STNO I) Ampaabeng, was dispatched to the scene with DPT No. FS 435 and WRT No. FS 737, arriving at 0334 hours.

Upon arrival, firefighters found the blaze fully engulfing three wooden structures, three metal containers, four vehicles and nine DAF vehicle engines.

The crew adopted both offensive and defensive firefighting strategies and successfully brought the fire under control at 0359 hours before fully extinguishing it at 0451 hours using water and foam.

The GNFS said Madam Bawama Naya, aged 70, was trapped in the fire and lost her life. Her charred body was handed over to the Suame District Police Command for preservation and further investigation.

Firefighters managed to salvage three Sprinter buses, one Smiling Benz bus and one Opanka bus from the fire through swift and coordinated intervention.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

The GNFS has cautioned the public, particularly operators within industrial and commercial enclaves, to strictly observe fire safety measures to help prevent similar incidents.