Fire. Service blames fuel scarcity for rising petrol related inferno
One injured as fire raze Mobil station in LagosA yet-to-be identified person on Wednesday sustained injury with several vehicles burnt following an inferno that engulfed one of Mobil’s filling stations in Lagos.
The incident which occurred at about 6:05am, was said to have been caused after an iron that punctured a tanker laden with 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at Oba Akran.
Eyewitnesses said the tanker was trying to negotiate its way into the filling station to offload its content but motorists on queue at the station refused to give it passage for fear of being dislodged.
Having blocked the entrance and with none willing to leave the road for the tanker to get into the station, the motorists were said to have been directing the tanker how to wriggle its way until an iron punctured the tanker and PMS started gushing out.
When they saw that there was impending disaster, some of them quickly drove off while the unfortunate ones. Including two buses and two cars were razed, said an eyewitness.
The federal and state Fire Services personnel; National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) were onground on time to contain the situation.
According to the Director, State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe and NEMA’s SouthWest spokesman, Ibrahim Farinloye, the injured man was trapped by an electric pole, which fell as a result of the inferno.
Farinloye confirmed that two cars and two buses were razed, just as he stated that the fire was put off at about 7:30am with four fire fighting tanks including one belonging to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
“A guy of about 25 years, an onlooker, was injured by the pole because the PHCN pole fell on him. He was quickly taken away by LASAMBUS for treatment.
“We have always warned that except for fire service personnel, everyone else including other emergency stakeholders during fire outbreaks should stay 300metres away.
“Also, we have appealed to people who have no business in emergency situations to stay off, all these steps are to ensure adequate crowd control as well as avoid situations such as this,” said Fadipe.
On why there was an upsurge in petrol related infernos in the last two weeks, Fadipe said the situation was not unconnected to fuel scarcity.
“As a result of fuel scarcity, some people have resorted to storing massive petroleum products even in overhead tanks as was discovered in the case of Christ Embassy Church the Tuesday night.
“Also, because people know that Mobil always has fuel, that was why they queued there this morning to the point of not allowing the tanker entrance.
“It is obvious they were too impatient and feared others will take over their lines if they should give thw tanker passage.
“I want to appeal to Lagosians that in as much as there is scarcity, people should avoid risking their lives.
“All that is required is patience and everyone will get fuel. People should avoid storing up petroleum products especially large quantities because it is risky.
“Also, they should endeavour to contact firemen immediately there is an outbreak. If we are called early, we can bring the situation under control without loss of lives and properties,” Fadipe said. (0)
Mobile station: Fire Serive blames fuel scarcity for rising petrol related inferno
