The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has confirmed that twelve of its personnel sustained injuries following a tanker explosion during firefighting operations at Gomoa Potsin.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, March 17, along the Winneba Accra Highway, after a fuel tanker carrying a large quantity of petrol caught fire.
According to a statement issued by the GNFS, the Central Regional Fire Control Room received a distress call at about 5:58 a.m. reporting a fire outbreak involving a fuel tanker. Firefighters from the Apam and Kasoa Fire Stations were immediately deployed to the scene, with support from a private water tanker.
Upon arrival, personnel encountered a fully developed blaze involving a tanker said to be carrying approximately 54,000 litres of petrol. The fire was already spreading rapidly to nearby structures, posing a significant threat to lives and property.
The GNFS indicated that the driver of the tanker and his mate managed to escape unhurt. Through coordinated efforts, firefighters were able to bring the fire under control within two hours and fully extinguish it shortly after.
However, during mopping-up operations to prevent re-ignition, the tanker suddenly reignited and exploded, leading to injuries among the firefighters.
The Service explained that the explosion occurred at a critical stage of the operation. The GNFS stated that the tanker reignited during cooling operations and subsequently exploded, resulting in injuries to twelve firefighters.
Out of the injured personnel, four sustained severe injuries and were rushed to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital for treatment, while another was treated at the Potsin Polyclinic. The remaining eight sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene by personnel from the Ambulance Service.
The GNFS noted that all the severely injured officers have since been treated and discharged. The Service commended the swift and coordinated response of its personnel, stating that their efforts helped prevent the fire from escalating into a major disaster.
The GNFS added that the situation could have been far worse given the quantity of fuel involved and the proximity of nearby structures.
Authorities say investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and subsequent explosion.
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