A fire outbreak at Yipala, opposite the So Fueling Station in Buipe, has destroyed several properties while the Central Gonja District Fire Service remained unable to respond due to their fire tender being out of service for an extended period.
The incident occurred at the premises of a private fuel dealer who operates a retail fuel business selling petroleum products in drums. According to reports, the fire started when the dealer attempted to open one of the fuel drums that had been rolled on the ground. The pressure buildup in the drum caused an explosion, triggering a blaze that quickly spread to a fuel tanker parked in the yard.
Despite the severity of the fire and its proximity to a major fuel installation, firefighters could only watch helplessly as the flames consumed properties. The district’s fire tender has reportedly been grounded and non-operational for over a year, leaving the fire service without the critical equipment needed to combat such emergencies.
Residents of Buipe have expressed frustration and anger at district authorities and duty bearers for failing to maintain essential firefighting equipment. Community members argue that if the fire tender had been in working condition, significant property damage could have been prevented.
“This is unacceptable. We have a fuel pipeline running through our district, yet our fire service cannot respond to a fire emergency,” one resident stated.
The situation is particularly concerning given Buipe’s strategic importance as a district hosting a fuel pipeline. Such infrastructure typically necessitates a well-equipped and responsive fire service to handle potential emergencies.
The incident has raised serious questions about emergency preparedness and the maintenance of critical public safety equipment in the Central Gonja District. Critics point out that allowing a fire tender to remain non-functional for over a year in a district with significant petroleum infrastructure represents a serious dereliction of duty.
At the time of publication, district authorities had not issued any official statement regarding the fire outbreak or plans to repair the grounded fire tender. The full extent of property damage is yet to be assessed, and no casualties have been reported.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining emergency response equipment, particularly in areas with high-risk installations such as fuel pipelines and storage facilities.
