An inferno that broke out on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at around 5:18 a.m. completely destroyed five container shops located opposite the North Campus of the University of Education, Winneba.

No casualties were recorded; however, one of the affected shops was a printing press equipped with gadgets valued at several thousands of Ghana Cedis.

According to ADO I Dery Vitus, Public Relations Officer of the Effutu Directorate of the Ghana National Fire Service, the office received a telephone call from one of the Service’s officials reporting the fire outbreak at the gate.

“Immediately, a crew was dispatched to the scene at 6:08 a.m. On arrival, they observed that container shops used for selling provisions, fruits, phones and accessories, as well as a boutique and a printing press, were all engulfed in a fully developed fire,” he stated.

It took the officers an hour and a half to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading to nearby shops.

DO I Dery urged residents of Winneba and surrounding communities to observe basic fire safety precautions to prevent man-made fire disasters.

He noted that failure to extinguish fires after cooking, not replacing worn-out electrical wiring, leaving lit candles unattended, and storing petroleum products in bedrooms and shops were some of the leading causes of such fires.

He also encouraged the public to promptly report fire incidents to the Ghana National Fire Service, whose personnel are trained to handle such emergencies.

ADO I Dery expressed sympathy to the victims of the disaster and cautioned the public against delaying fire reports until situations become uncontrollable.