Avenor fire intensifies as military joins emergency response
A major fire at Avenor’s North Industrial Area in Accra intensified Thursday morning, prompting the deployment of additional police and Ghana Armed Forces personnel to support firefighters
HENRY GERCHI 
Accra, October 1, 2026
A fire outbreak at Avenor in Accra’s North Industrial Area intensified Thursday morning, with thick smoke and flames spreading through wooden structures and an industrial facility in the area.
The fire reportedly started around 7:30am near the Avenor Junction, in an area locally known as Kofikrom, where several wooden kiosks and businesses operate.
By about 10:00am, roughly three hours after the outbreak, the fire had intensified despite sustained efforts by firefighters to contain it.
The difficult conditions were reportedly worsened by the concentration of wooden kiosks, which initially prevented firefighters from gaining direct access to the base of the fire.
Police and military deployed
As the situation became more intense, additional security personnel were deployed to support the emergency response.
Police officers increased their presence around the affected area to control movement and prevent members of the public from getting too close to the fire.
Personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces also arrived at the scene to assist emergency responders, while firefighters continued efforts to contain the blaze.
The Ghana News Agency reported that personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Ambulance Service and Ghana Police Service were at the scene working to protect lives and property.
Fire brought under control
The Ghana National Fire Service later reported that firefighters had brought the fire under control by about 11:00am.
Graphic Online reported that four fire engines remained at the scene around 11:20am, while additional engines and fire tenders were being dispatched to support the operation.
The fire affected a PVC warehouse and adjoining wooden structures. The extent of the property damage was still being assessed.
Casualty reports remain unclear
There were conflicting reports concerning casualties as the firefighting operation continued.
While some media reports cited eyewitness accounts of people possibly trapped in the affected area, the Ghana National Fire Service said it had not officially confirmed any deaths at the time of its latest update.
The cause of the fire had also not been established. GNFS officials said investigations would be conducted after the firefighting operation to determine what caused the outbreak and assess the full extent of the damage.
