A major fire has destroyed sections of Spacepack Company Limited, a plastic manufacturing company in Tema, after flames swept through parts of the facility in the early hours of Tuesday.
The Ghana National Fire Service says it received a distress call at 12:39 a.m. and dispatched the first fire crew a minute later. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 12:44 a.m. to find the blaze well developed, with the fire spreading from the company’s cups and plastics production unit into an adjoining warehouse.
Six fire engines, supported by two water tankers and an additional water tanker from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, battled the inferno for several hours. Firefighters managed to confine the blaze at 2:47 a.m., brought it under control by 4:10 a.m., and completely extinguished it at 6:33 a.m.
The fire ravaged the company’s takeaway packs production unit as well as the cups and plastics section. An extruder, a thermoforming machine, and an unspecified quantity of finished products were completely destroyed.
Despite the extensive damage, firefighters successfully prevented the flames from spreading to the administration block, a seven-unit apartment, the company’s gas plant, an adjoining warehouse, and the nearby De United Industries Ghana Limited, producers of Indomie products.
One firefighter, Assistant Divisional Officer II Emmanuel Kwarteng of the Devtraco Fire Station, sustained injuries during the operation. He was initially treated at the Urban Health Hospital, also known as the Community Two Polyclinic, before being referred to the Tema General Hospital for further medical attention.
The operation was supervised by the Greater Accra Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer II Patrick N. Sallah, together with senior officers from the Industrial Area Fire Command and other fire stations. Personnel from the Tema SWAT Unit of the Ghana Police Service also provided security at the scene.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established, with the Ghana National Fire Service indicating that investigations are underway
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Philip Azu