Fire has gutted a forest reserve close to the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) causing extensive damage to property in the Sunyani West Municipality.

But the timely intervention of firefighters prevented the inferno from reaching a gas-filling station, situated around the reserve at Fiapre.

The outbreak, however, burnt a sawmill, meat and carpentry shops nearby.

Though the cause of the fire is yet to be known, residents around the enclave believed it might be caused by activities of drug peddlers and smokers in the reserve.

The Divisional Officer Grade Three (DOIII) Ruth Tandoh, the Bono Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) confirmed the incident happened around 1000 hours.

She, therefore, urged shop owners around the enclave to weed and keep their surroundings clean.

Alfred Atta Yeboah, the Bono Regional Operations Officer of the National Disaster Management Authority (NAMDO) said his outfit was yet to assess the impact of the outbreak and assured the victims of the government's support.