The Management of the Eastern Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service has refuted reports that some unknown individuals attempted to set the Nkawkaw Fire Tender ablaze.

A statement signed by Assistant Chief Fire Officer I (ACFO I), Timothy Osafo-Affum, the Eastern Regional Commander, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the reports were false and misleading.

It said on Tuesday, June 11, 2025, at approximately 2116 hours, the Nkawkaw Station received a distress call regarding a fire outbreak at Zaragoza Atta Ne Atta, involving a nine-bedroom self-contained house.

“The crew immediately responded to the incident. While en route and near the scene, the fire tender got stuck in a muddy portion of the road, which was filled with charcoal,” the statement said.

“To drive the tender out of the mud, the heat from the engine and the exhaust ignited the charcoal beneath the tender, resulting in the emission of smoke.”

“The smoke was initially misinterpreted as an attempt by unknown individuals gathered near the scene to set the fire engine ablaze.”

The statement said that at no point in time did anyone attempt to set the fire tender ablaze.

“There was, therefore, no malicious intent,” it said.

It said the situation made it impossible for the crew to get to the scene, and as a result, an Mpraeso Fire Tender was quickly dispatched to respond to the incident.

The GNFS reassured the public that it remained committed to responding swiftly, professionally, and efficiently to all emergency calls.