Accra, Ghana—A devastating fire tore through the Dansoman Market in the early hours of Wednesday, November 26, 2025, resulting in the tragic death of an 8-year-old girl who was trapped in one of the affected structures.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) reported that the blaze was first noticed at 00:02 hrs, with the Dansoman Fire Station crew arriving on the scene just two minutes later. Firefighters, however, found the inferno already at an advanced stage, consuming shops and wooden structures and spreading rapidly.
Massive Response to Contain Inferno
The scale of the fire required a massive mobilization effort. Eight fire engines were deployed from various stations, including the Industrial Area, Ministries, National Headquarters, Madina, Weija, Anyaa, and Accra City. Additionally, two private water tankers, provided by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, were brought in to support the operation.
Fire Service crews managed to confine the blaze by 01:51 hrs and brought it under control at 03:03 hrs. The total operation concluded at 05:21 hrs after exhaustive overhauling to ensure all hidden flames were extinguished.
Victim Identified, Investigation Underway
Tragically, the 8-year-old girl was trapped and could not be reached by rescue teams. Her severely charred body was recovered and subsequently handed over to the Ghana Police Service for preservation and further investigation into the circumstances of her death.
While the quick response prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent, non-market buildings, numerous wooden structures and commercial shops, along with their contents, were completely destroyed.
The cause of the blaze remains unknown, and a formal investigation is currently underway by the GNFS. The Service has used the incident to urge the public to remain highly vigilant and exercise extreme caution in densely packed market areas to prevent future tragedies.
