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Three firefighters sustained varying degrees of injuries after a major fire broke out at the AYM Shafa Filling Station in Area 3, Garki, Abuja, following the explosion of a petrol tanker that was reportedly discharging fuel. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service said it received a distress call at about 9:44 p.m. on Thursday and immediately deployed firefighters and emergency equipment to the scene. The intensity of the blaze prompted a coordinated response involving multiple emergency agencies to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
According to the FCT Fire Service, one of the injured firefighters is receiving intensive treatment at the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital, Abuja, while the two others are being treated at Alliance Hospital in Garki. Preliminary assessments revealed that the inferno engulfed a fuel tanker carrying about 45,000 litres of petrol, destroying 13 fuel dispensing pumps, three fuel dispensers and two civilian vehicles. Parts of a nearby Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office and sections of Ahmad Plaza, a commercial building adjoining the filling station, also suffered significant damage.
Authorities said the cause of the fire remains under investigation and urged members of the public to avoid speculation until the official findings are released. The FCT Fire Service commended the bravery of its personnel and the support received from other emergency responders, noting that their swift intervention prevented an even greater disaster. It also called on operators of filling stations and other commercial facilities to strictly adhere to fire safety regulations, maintain functional firefighting equipment and comply with safety standards to reduce the risk of similar incidents.
