Three Firefighters Injured As Inferno Razes Shafa Filling Station, Ahmad Plaza In Abuja
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Three firefighters sustained serious injuries while battling a major fire outbreak at Shafa Filling Station, which affected parts of Ahmad Plaza and adjoining structures in Area 3, Garki, Abuja.
The FCT Fire Service disclosed this in a statement signed by Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad Tauheed, Superintendent of Fire and Head, Public Relations and Enlightenment, for the Director, FCT Fire Service.
According to the statement, the fire service received a distress call at about 9:44 p.m. and immediately deployed personnel and firefighting appliances to the scene.
The magnitude of the fire prompted the intervention of other emergency agencies, leading to a coordinated inter-agency operation to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.
The firefighting operation was supervised by the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, CGF Olumode Samuel, alongside the Director of the FCT Fire Service, ACGF Adebayo Zacchaeus, and the Head of Operations, DCF Shina Abioye.
The statement said several senior officers were also deployed to coordinate tactical firefighting and rescue operations.
A total of seven fire service appliances were listed as having participated in the operation. They included CT 30 B07, CT 38 B07, FFS-75, FFS-285, FFS-166, FFS-50 and NJI-46FJ.
Other agencies and organisations also deployed operational vehicles, including two Julius Berger water tankers, a NEMA rescue bus, a CBN fire truck, a Federal Fire Service ambulance and a Shafa Filling Station tanker.
Several commando vehicles from the FCT Fire Service and Federal Fire Service were also deployed to the scene.
Preliminary assessment showed that the filling station had 13 fuel dispensing pumps, three of which were directly affected by the fire.
The blaze also destroyed two vehicles and engulfed a fuel tanker loaded with approximately 45,000 litres of petroleum product.
Parts of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office and sections of Ahmad Plaza, a two-storey commercial building, were also affected.
The FCT Fire Service said the swift intervention and coordinated efforts of the responding agencies prevented the fire from spreading to other nearby structures and helped to substantially reduce the extent of damage.
However, the operation recorded injuries among firefighters.
Three firefighters were seriously injured while carrying out firefighting operations.
One of the injured officers is receiving intensive medical treatment at the Trauma Centre, National Hospital, Abuja, while the other two were taken to Alliance Hospital, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
The Director of the FCT Fire Service expressed concern over the condition of the injured personnel and urged members of the public to keep them in their thoughts and prayers.
The Service commended the firefighters and other emergency personnel for their bravery and professionalism, saying their prompt response helped prevent a potentially greater disaster.
It also appreciated the support of sister emergency agencies, security personnel and members of the public during the emergency operation.
The cause of the fire, according to the statement, remains under investigation.
The FCT Fire Service therefore urged the public to avoid speculation and await the outcome of the official investigation.
It further advised filling station operators, commercial facility owners and members of the public to comply strictly with fire safety regulations, maintain fire protection systems regularly and report emergencies promptly.
The Service said fire emergencies in the FCT can be reported through 0209-290-6118.
