Four persons were injured and part of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) building was damaged after a petrol tanker caught fire on Friday while discharging fuel at AYM Shafa Filling Station in Area 3, Garki, Abuja.
The Federal Fire Service (FFS) said the fire, which involved a tanker carrying about 60,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), has been extinguished, while an investigation has begun to determine the cause of the incident.
THE WHISTLER had earlier reported that the fire broke out at the filling station beside the FCT-IRS office along Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti Way.
At the time, the Federal Fire Service said its firefighters were working to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading, while urging residents, motorists and onlookers to stay away from the area as emergency responders carried out operations.
Providing an update, the FFS said the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, who served as the incident commander, coordinated the emergency response and remained at the scene until the early hours of the day to ensure the fire was completely brought under control.
According to the fire service, the fire spread from the tanker to part of the adjoining three-storey FCT-IRS building before firefighters contained the fire using multiple firefighting appliances, medium water jets and foam compound.
The FFS said four adult males sustained varying degrees of injuries during the incident. They were immediately evacuated by a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) ambulance to a nearby hospital for medical attention and have since been discharged.
It added that after a comprehensive inspection of the scene, firefighters confirmed there was no remaining fire or additional casualty before all personnel and firefighting equipment were withdrawn to their respective stations.
The FFS thanked residents, motorists and members of the public for complying with safety directives during the emergency, saying their cooperation contributed to the smooth execution of the firefighting operation.
It also commended the support of sister emergency agencies, including the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Police Force and other organisations that participated in the response.
The Controller-General praised firefighters and other emergency responders for what he described as their courage, professionalism, discipline and unwavering commitment to protecting lives, property and critical national assets.
Meanwhile, the Federal Fire Service said an investigation has commenced to determine both the immediate and remote causes of the fire. It noted that the findings would help inform measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
It reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property through prompt, professional and coordinated emergency response across the country.
(The Whistler)