Three firefighters sustained serious injuries while battling a major fire outbreak at Shafa Filling Station, which affected Ahmad Plaza in Area 3, Garki, Abuja. The FCT Fire Service disclosed this in a statement signed by its Head of Public Relations and Enlightenment, TPL (Dr.) Ibrahim Muhammad Tauheed. According to the statement, the service received a distress call at 9:44pm on Thursday and immediately mobilised personnel and firefighting equipment to the scene. It stated that the magnitude of the fire prompted other emergency agencies to join the operation, leading to a coordinated inter-agency response. The firefighting operation was supervised by the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, CGF Olumode Samuel; Director of the FCT Fire Service, ACGF Adebayo Zacchaeus and Head of Operations, DCF Shina Abioye. The preliminary assessment, according to the statement, showed that 13 fuel dispensing pumps were located within the affected facility, while three dispensers were directly affected by the fire. The service added that two vehicles were completely burnt, while a fuel tanker loaded with about 45,000 litres of petroleum product was engulfed by the fire. Parts of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office and sections of the two-storey Ahmad Plaza commercial building were also affected. However, the FCT Fire Service said the swift response by the emergency agencies prevented the fire from spreading to nearby structures and substantially reduced the extent of damage. It regretted that three firefighters sustained serious injuries while carrying out firefighting operations. One of the injured officers is said to be receiving intensive medical treatment at the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital, Abuja, while the other two were taken to Alliance Hospital, Area 11, Garki, for treatment. The FCT Fire Service commended the firefighters and other emergency personnel for their bravery and professionalism in containing the inferno. It also appreciated the support of sister emergency agencies, security personnel and members of the public during the operation. The service said the cause of the fire was still under investigation, urging members of the public to avoid speculation and await the outcome of the official inquiry. It further advised filling station operators, commercial establishments and members of the public to comply strictly with fire safety regulations, maintain fire protection systems regularly and promptly report fire emergencies through the appropriate channels.
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