● A part of European Town
Raging fire on Sunday afternoon swept through scores of makeshift structures along the rail lines closed to the train station at European Town, Sekondi, in the Western Region.
“A total of 64 structures, mostly drinking bars and makeshift rooms, were burnt while about 130 others were secured by firefighters deployed from the Ghana National Fire Service, Regional Headquarters, Fijai and the Naval Base at Sekondi,”Fire Service source told The Spectator.
Various personal belongings were also burnt.
Madam Mary Tetteh, 65, who could not bear the sight of her shop consumed by collapsed and was whisked by firemen to the nearby Naval Base Clinic, for treatment.
“Six gas cylinders exploded during the fire and we were able to retrieve 65 bottles to safety, to prevent further explosions,” Regional Public Relations Officer, Divisional Officer II, Emmanuel Bonny said.
He again said that at about 12.04pm on Sunday, the Sekondi Control Room received a distress call and so fire appliances were dispatched to the scene along the rail lines at European Town, near the train station, at about 12.11pm.
“We dispatched four fire tenders to fight the fire from spreading because of the wind and about 1.09 pm, the fire was brought under control but the whole area at the rail line was totally burnt,” he stressed.
He explained that wooden structures asbestos and cooking oils stored in the rooms coupled with high wind velocity from Sekondi shores, triggered the intensity of the Sunday fire.
DO II Bonney advised the public to stay away during such fires, noting that the explosion of gas cylinders during the incident, could have resulted in a disaster.
“The public should stay away during fire fighting especially when gas cylinders are exploding, because we are professionals and have studied the wind direction, we could prevent any occurrences. With civilians engaged in fire -fighting, fatalities could have been higher,” he added.
He said the command had begun investigations to establish the cause of the fire break.
The rail line, near the Sekondi railway station, had generated concern among the security architecture in the metropolis regarding the use of the base as ‘hive’ for prostitution, which had attracted foreigners mostly Nigerian girls.
Recently, the Chief Fisherman of the Sekondi Fishing Harbour, Nana Kofi Essoun, complained that about “900 commercial sex workers are currently plying their trade at European Town, the community hosting the harbour.”
Describing the situation as worrying, he suggested that the Western Region Security Council (REGSEC) should take urgent action to curb the increase in criminal activities including armed robberies in the area.
“The fishing harbour is now not safe. As I speak with you now, we have over 900 commercial sex workers from Nigeria who have erected sheds for their trade. They engage in various activities endangering the peace we have been enjoying at the harbor,” he stressed.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Sekondi