Personnel at the Wa Municipal Fire Station had a narrow escape on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, when a truck loaded with sawn lumber crashed into the station.
The incident occurred while officers from both the Municipal and Regional Fire Substations were holding a briefing ahead of a scheduled simulation exercise at the Wa Kejetia market.
Eyewitnesses say the Benz truck, registered GT 8045 C, was reversing when the driver lost control due to a mechanical failure, preventing him from applying the brakes.
The vehicle veered off course, knocking down a lamp pole before slamming into the station’s crew room and stopping just in front of the fire engine.
The impact damaged part of the station’s building and slightly affected the fire engine, but fortunately, all personnel managed to escape unharmed.
Assistant Divisional Officer Grade 1 (ADOI) Imran Iddrisu, the Acting Municipal Fire Commander, recounted that he and his men were outside the station when they saw the truck attempting to offload lumber at a nearby shop.
However, the driver missed his turn, leading to the accident.
The Upper West Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Isaac Kofi Obosu, reiterated calls for the fire station’s relocation.
He stressed that its current position near a roundabout poses ongoing safety risks, further worsened by the ageing infrastructure.
He urged authorities to expedite plans for a permanent and more secure facility, emphasizing that this near-tragic event should serve as a wake-up call.