A four-bedroom apartment has been destroyed by fire in the early hours of Wednesday, 4 March, at Dormaa Ahenkro in the Bono Region.

The fire, which reportedly started around 6:00 a.m., spread quickly through the building before residents could bring the situation under control.

Eyewitnesses said occupants rushed out of the house to safety as the flames intensified, with some attempting to retrieve personal belongings while others tried to control the blaze using buckets of water.

Residents in the area said the situation was worsened by the absence of a functioning fire tender in the municipality, which they claimed has been out of service for about three months.

“We did everything we could, but the fire was too intense,” one tenant said. “If the fire tender had been working, maybe the damage wouldn’t have been this severe.”

The Dormaa Central Municipal Fire Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, DOIII Eunice Adwoa Serwaa, said preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have started from an air conditioning unit installed with substandard electrical wiring in one of the rooms.

“Our initial findings indicate that the fire started from an air conditioner connected with inferior wiring,” she explained. “We urge residents to ensure that electrical installations are carried out by qualified professionals using approved materials.”

She also advised residents in Dormaa Ahenkro and nearby communities to exercise caution in the use of electrical appliances and open flames, especially while the municipal fire tender remains out of operation.

Some residents have called on authorities to urgently repair the existing fire tender or provide a new one to help emergency responders deal with fire outbreaks in the area.

No injuries were reported, but the fire destroyed the apartment and several personal belongings belonging to the occupants. Authorities say investigations into the incident are ongoing.