Twelve personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) sustained injuries on Tuesday, March 17 while responding to a fuel tanker explosion at Gomoa Potsin.
In a Facebook post, the GNFS said the firefighters were hurt when the fire reignited and caused an explosion during cooling operations.
Four of the personnel sustained serious injuries. Three were rushed to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital, the fourth received treatment at the Potsin Polyclinic, while the eight others who sustained minor injuries were treated on site. GNFS leadership has assured full support and is closely monitoring their recovery.
“The Service commends all supporting agencies and reaffirms its commitment to protecting lives and property, while wishing the injured firefighters a speedy recovery,” the post stated.
The tanker, registration number GT 5671-22, was carrying 54,000 litres of petrol when it caught fire under circumstances that remain unclear.
The GNFS reported that a distress call was received at 5:58 a.m., prompting fire tenders from Apam and Kasoa, assisted by a private water tanker, to be dispatched. Firefighters arrived at 6:26 a.m. to find the vehicle engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading rapidly to nearby properties.
It took nearly two hours to bring the inferno under control, averting what could have been far more devastating consequences for surrounding communities. The driver and his mate escaped without injury.
