A fire outbreak in the early hours of Sunday gutted seven shops situated near the North Campus Small Gate of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in the Central region, leaving behind significant property damage.

The blaze, which is believed to have started at dawn around 2:30 on Sunday, June 15, completely destroyed the affected shops, which included a barber’s shop, a cold store, a phone and accessories outlet, a printing press, among others.

Eyewitnesses reported that the fire originated in a shop containing a gas cylinder, which allegedly exploded following a power outage in the area. The explosion is thought to have triggered the rapid spread of the flames to adjoining structures.

“When the fire started, we tried calling the fire service immediately, but they said their trucks were not functioning. It took them over an hour to arrive,” one eyewitness said.

Firefighters reportedly arrived on site between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m., by which time the fire had already caused extensive damage. By then, efforts to salvage any property were largely futile.

Numerous electrical items — including refrigerators, computers, and printing equipment — were lost in the blaze, with total destruction of stock and fittings reported by shop owners.

No injuries or fatalities have been reported at this time.