Three firefighters of the FCT Fire Service were injured while battling a fire that broke out at the AYM Shafa filling station in Area 3, Garki, Abuja.
The incident occurred on Thursday night after a petrol-laden tanker exploded at the station, sending flames across the facility.
FCT Fire Service Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Muhammad, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.
He said the service received a distress call at about 9:44pm and immediately deployed personnel and firefighting equipment to the scene.
Due to the severity of the fire, other emergency agencies joined the operation to contain the blaze.
Muhammad said three firefighters sustained serious injuries while trying to put out the fire.
One of the injured firefighters is currently receiving intensive medical treatment at the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital, Abuja.
The other two were taken to Alliance Hospital in Area 11, Garki, where they are also receiving treatment.
Muhammad said the cause of the fire had not yet been established, urging the public to avoid speculation until the investigation is concluded.
A preliminary assessment showed that a tanker carrying about 45,000 litres of petroleum product was destroyed in the fire.
The incident also affected 13 fuel dispensing pumps, with three of the dispensers directly damaged by the flames.
Two civilian vehicles were completely burnt, while parts of the Federal Revenue Service office and Ahmad Plaza, a two-storey commercial building beside the station, were also affected.
The FCT Fire Service commended emergency agencies, security personnel and members of the public for their cooperation during the operation.
Muhammad said the quick response of the firefighters and other emergency workers helped prevent a more serious disaster.
He urged filling station operators and members of the public to comply strictly with fire safety regulations.
He also called for regular maintenance of fire protection systems and prompt reporting of emergencies through the appropriate channels.
The Director of the FCT Fire Service, Adebayo Zacchaeus, expressed concern over the condition of the injured firefighters and appealed to the public to keep them in their prayers.
He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protecting lives and property through rapid emergency response and enforcement of fire safety standards.
The firefighting operation was supervised by Federal Fire Service Controller General, Olumide Samuel, alongside the FCT Fire Service Director and other emergency officials.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
