A major fire disaster was narrowly avoided on Saturday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, after a petrol tanker caught fire while discharging fuel at a filling station.
The incident occurred at Olumo filling station, Oko-Olowo Junction, when the tanker, laden with about 45,000 litres of petrol, reportedly burst into flames shortly after arriving from Lagos.
The Kwara State Fire Service said the fire broke out around 2:31pm, causing panic in the area before emergency responders were alerted.
Spokesman of the service, Hassan Adekunle, said firefighters were swiftly deployed and battled the blaze with professionalism, successfully preventing the fire from spreading to the filling station’s infrastructure and adjoining properties.
Although the tanker was affected by the inferno, Adekunle noted that the prompt intervention of the firefighters averted what could have been a catastrophic explosion with attendant loss of lives and property.
He added that investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, commiserated with the filling station owner and commended the officers for their bravery and timely response.
Muhammed cautioned fuel transporters and filling station operators against negligence, urging strict compliance with safety protocols during fuel transportation and discharge. He also stressed the need for routine inspection of tankers and the availability of functional firefighting equipment at fuel stations.
According to him, early reporting of emergencies and adherence to safety standards remain critical in preventing fuel-related disasters.
