Three firefighters sustained varying degrees of injuries while battling a fire that broke out at the AYM Shafa filling station in Area 3, Garki, Abuja, on Thursday night.
Key Highlights:
- Fuel tanker explosion sparked a major fire at an Abuja filling station.
- Three firefighters were injured while battling the blaze.
- The fire damaged fuel pumps, vehicles, and nearby buildings.
- Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion.
- Fire officials said a swift response prevented a bigger disaster.
The FCT Fire Service Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Muhammad, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday.
Muhammad said the fire started after a petrol tanker loaded with about 45,000 litres of petroleum product exploded at the filling station. He said the fire service received a distress call at about 9:44 p.m. and immediately deployed personnel and firefighting equipment to the scene.
According to him, the magnitude of the inferno prompted other emergency agencies to join the operation, leading to a coordinated inter-agency response.
“Three of our firefighters were grossly injured while controlling and putting out the fire,” Muhammad said.
He disclosed that one of the injured firefighters was receiving intensive medical treatment at the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital, Abuja, while the other two were taken to Alliance Hospital in Area 11, Garki.
“Medical specialists are making efforts to ensure his recovery, while the other two were rushed to Alliance Hospital, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, and are receiving medical treatment,” he said.
Muhammad said the cause of the explosion remained under investigation, warning members of the public against spreading unverified accounts of the incident.
“Members of the public are advised to refrain from speculation and await the outcome of the official investigation,” he said.
The fire service spokesman said preliminary assessment showed that the inferno affected the filling station and adjoining structures. He said 13 fuel dispensing pumps were located within the affected facility, with three dispensers directly damaged by the fire.
Two civilian vehicles were also completely burnt, while parts of the Federal Revenue Service office and sections of Ahmad Plaza, a two-storey commercial building beside the filling station, were affected.
Muhammad said the fire service’s swift intervention helped prevent the incident from escalating into a larger disaster.
He commended sister emergency agencies, security personnel and members of the public who assisted during the operation, while praising the firefighters for their bravery and professionalism.
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The Director of the FCT Fire Service, Adebayo Zacchaeus, expressed concern over the injuries sustained by the firefighters and appealed to members of the public to pray for their recovery.
Zacchaeus said the FCT Fire Service remained committed to protecting lives and property through rapid emergency response, public education and enforcement of fire safety regulations.
The fire service also urged filling station operators, commercial establishments and residents to comply strictly with fire safety regulations and ensure regular maintenance of firefighting and other safety equipment.
Muhammad advised members of the public to promptly report fire emergencies through the FCT Fire Service emergency line: 020-9290-6118.
The emergency operation was supervised by the Federal Fire Service Controller-General, Olumode Samuel, the FCT Fire Service Director and other tactical and rescue personnel.
