Business operators and residents at Nima Junction in Accra New Town are appealing to government to set up fire service substations in every district to aid quick response to distress calls.

This comes after fire service personnel reportedly arrived late in response to a fire outbreak.

Some shop owners say they had to use their fire extinguishers to help douse the fire while they waited for officials of the fire service to arrive on the scene.

Some business operators say they fear their electrical appliances may have been damaged due to the abrupt power outage caused by the fire.

"We do printing here. I was working and all of a sudden the lights went off. I came out and noticed there were little sparks coming from the ECG meter, initially we ignored it because that fault is not new, but then we later notice the cable was burning.

"We didn’t know what to do, so we all ran; a gentleman in the area brought out his extinguisher to help manage the fire while we waited for officials at the Fire Service," a shop owner said.

Some residents want government to set up fire service substations in each district especially in the capital.

"At least every district should have its own fire substation, so that when there is an emergency you can just call the fire station within your area and in five minutes they can be here.

"But calling the head office the distance takes about 30 to 40 minutes, and that can be risky," Mohamed Issaiou, Assembly man for Newtown, said.