Two personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Tema metropolis on Thursday afternoon sustained severe fire burns in an attempt to bring burning fuel tankers under control.

The two whose names were not given, were rushed to the Tema General Hospital after they were sprayed with foam and water to quench the flames.

A fire tender belonging to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which went to the fire scene to augment effort of the Fire Service was also grounded when it tyres and engine caught fire.

The burnt tankers, which were parked in a yard at the Tema Free Zone contained 71,000 litres of premix fuel, which spilled on the ground thus causing the spread of the fire.

As at 1315 hours when the Ghana News Agency got to the scene, two fire tenders one each from TOR and GNFS and a private water tanker with several fire personnel were seen fighting flames on one of the tankers which was still burning.

Later the personnel from the police and the Ghana Ambulance Service also arrived to assist to quell fire.

Hundreds of people who thronged the scene run helter-skelter when the razing tanker exploded and ignited fire emitting thick dark smoke that enveloped the area.

Mr Prince Billy Anaglatey, Tema Metropolitan Public Affairs Officer of the GNFS told the GNA at the scene that his outfit received information on the fire at 1244 hours and arrived at the scene nine minutes later.

Mr Anaglatey stated that while one tanker was still on fire, the other two were completely burnt when they got to the scene adding that the valves of the tanker were also opened leading to spillage of the fuel on the ground.

As a result, personnel had difficulties in fighting the fire, which subsequently spread extensively despite their continuous effort to fight it with foam while cooling the tanker with water.

The Fire PR indicated that the cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Some eyewitnesses who work in the area said they noticed smoke was emitting from the yard at about 1215 hours.

The tanker was still in flames as at 1440 hours the GNA left the scene.



Source: GNA