Tema, Jan. 22, GNA - The swift response by Firemen to attend to an intense fire that gutted an abandoned fishing vessel at the Tema fishing harbour on Friday morning, prevented its spread to adjoining vessels. There was no casualty.

Mr Prince Billy Anaglatey, Tema Regional Fire Officer told the GNA at the scene that it took firemen from Tema Fire Office and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) about one and half hours to bring the fire under control. He said at 1121hr his outfit received a call concerning the outbreak which was responded to with dispatch. He said they joined their colleagues from the GPHA who had started fighting it.

Mr Anaglatey said an investigation was being conducted to know the cause of the fire.

An eye witness account indicated that some people were dismantling the vessel that had been abandoned at the jetty of the fishing harbour for years to be used as scraps. In the process there was a spark which came into contact with a 'cork' and ignited. The witness explained that the cork also known as wax is like thick foam used to maintain the ice in a vessel. Owners of the abandoned vessel were not immediately available for comments.