On Friday, the Ebonyi Fire Service Commission reported that it successfully rescued a tanker pouring Premium Motor Spirit at SunPet Filling Station from being devoured by fire.
Mr Raphael Ibiam, the commission’s Director, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki.
According to Ibiam, the tanker caught fire due to heat released by a generating set used for product pouring.
He claimed that his team of firefighters put out the fire fast.
He stated that the team arrived at the station, which is located at Ishieke Junction on the Abakaliki-Enugu highway, and moved quickly to prevent the fire from spreading to the station.
Ibiam further stated that a station official was slightly injured and is currently being treated at an unnamed medical facility.
He went on to say that the fire destroyed the generator, truck tyres, and the hose used for product offloading.
“The incident occurred at 10:38 a.m. from the generator to the tyres, but we were able to control the fire.”
“The driver of the truck quickly drove out from the station to avoid escalation,” Ibiam was quoted as saying.
He urged the public to take preventive measures to avoid fire outbreaks.
He also advised homes, merchants, and gas stations, among others, to maintain a fire extinguisher on hand to manage fire outbreaks.