A three-storey building at Manhyia South in Kumasi has been gutted by fire, with 11 out of 44 rooms destroyed.

The fire, which broke out on Thursday afternoon, August 20, triggered panic among residents and passers-by in the area.

An eyewitness at the scene recounted how the incident unfolded.

“I was standing in front of the house when a lady rushed out screaming that the house was on fire. We immediately called the fire service and other people to come and help. Honestly, we don't know what caused the fire,” a woman told Adom News.

The cause of the fire is yet to be officially established, with preliminary reports suggesting a possible gas-related incident.

Another witness expressed shock at how fast the fire spread through the building.

“I have witnessed several fire outbreaks, but I was surprised by how this one started and how it spread to other rooms in the storey building. The damage was extensive. It nearly spread to the next house, but with timely intervention it was brought under control. There were several gas cylinders in the house, so we kept hearing explosions,” he said.

According to residents, all occupants of the building managed to escape.

“All the people who were in the house managed to run out of the building,” one of them confirmed.

They also stated that no deaths or injuries were recorded.

Personnel from the Asokore Mampong and KNUST Fire Stations responded swiftly to the scene, preventing the fire from spreading to the remaining parts of the building and nearby properties.

The Ashanti Regional Deputy Fire Commander, ACFO II Amos Aban, said the Regional Control Room received a distress call at 12:23 p.m., prompting the dispatch of two fire engines from Asokore Mampong and the KNUST Campus.

He said firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control at approximately 1:40 p.m.

“The fire has been brought under control. The damage assessment shows that 11 out of 44 rooms were affected. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze and protect the other 33 rooms in the building.

"We also managed to stop it from extending to adjoining buildings. At this time, no casualties or injuries have been reported,” ACFO II Amos said.

According to him, investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire, and the public will be updated once findings are available.

He urged the public to observe the necessary safety measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

“Even though we are yet to determine the cause of the fire, you can see that the building is old and the electrical cables appear outdated.

"I would therefore advise building owners to conduct periodic risk assessments on the electrical wiring in their homes to avoid possible fire outbreaks, since weak electrical cables can easily trigger a fire,” he added.

Meanwhile, the NADMO Officer at Manhyia South, Alhaji Alahaji, is appealing to benevolent individuals and organisations to come to the aid of residents affected by the fire.

He said NADMO is making efforts to intervene and provide the needed support to the victims.