Three firefighters sustained varying degrees of injuries on Thursday night while responding to a fire incident at the AYM Shafa filling station located in Area 3, Garki, Abuja.
​The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service, Ibrahim Muhammad, confirmed the incident on Friday in an official statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
​According to Muhammad, emergency services received an alert at approximately 9:44 p.m. on Thursday night after a petrol tanker carrying roughly 45,000 litres of fuel exploded at the station premises.
​The service immediately mobilized personnel and fire appliances to the scene. Due to the rapid spread of the fire, a multi-agency response was activated, bringing together various firefighting authorities to contain the blaze.
Three firefighters were injured during the containment operation. One firefighter suffered severe injuries and is currently receiving treatment at the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital, Abuja. The other two firefighters were admitted to Alliance Hospital in Area 11, Garki, where they are undergoing medical care.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the fire damaged three out of 13 fuel dispensers, completely destroyed two civilian vehicles, and affected adjacent commercial structures, including sections of Ahmad Plaza and an office of the Federal Revenue Service (FRS).
​Speaking on the response effort, the Director of the FCT Fire Service, Adebayo Zacchaeus, commended the bravery and quick action of the responding teams, noting that their prompt intervention prevented further escalation and potential loss of life. The emergency operation was directly monitored on-site by senior officials, including Federal Fire Service Controller General Olumode Samuel.
​”Members of the public are advised to refrain from speculation and await the outcome of the official investigation,” stated PRO Ibrahim Muhammad, adding that the exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
​The FCT Fire Service reiterated the importance of strict adherence to fire safety protocols, advising operators of commercial and fuel stations to conduct routine maintenance on fire suppression systems and report emergencies promptly via emergency helplines.
