Audio: Fire Service suspects arson in Kumasi Central market fire

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Fire Service personnel in the Ashanti Region say fire has attributed the fire outbreak close to Kumasi Central market to arson.

The fire reportedly started around 1.30pm yesterday (Monday), April 10.

According to reports, items worth thousands of cedis were destroyed in the outbreak.

The cause of the fire is not immediately known, as fire officers arrived at the scene to battle the inferno.

But the Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, Semekor Fiadzo told Adom News his outfit received intelligence that the fire may have been started by some people, either deliberately or accidently.

He said their investigation is now focusing on that line of enquiry.

“We had intelligence that some people planned to burn the Kumasi market last year December and so we have been on the alert even before this recent fire outbreak.

“As a result of the threat, we activated our proactive measures to make sure that nothing of that sort happens.

“Though we are aware that yesterday’s fire outbreak was purely an accident, it could have been worse if we had not intervened, ” he said.

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Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Ken Yeboah has confirmed that driver of the KIA truck parked in front of the building has been arrested by the police for interrogation.

The Kumasi Central Market has seen a series of fire outbreaks in the past, although this particular fire did not engulf portions of the market.