A fuel station in Awka has been razed by fire while discharging petroleum products, destroying property worth over ₦100 million, the Anambra State Fire Chief, Mr Chukwudi Chiketa, has said.
The station, known as Okeb Filling Station, is located on the Awka axis of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway.
Mr Chiketa revealed that the fire started around 2:00 p.m., but the service was not alerted immediately.
According to him, it was unfortunate that the office was not informed earlier enough to effectively manage the inferno.
He said that by estimated value, over ₦100 million was lost to the blaze, regretting that reasonable saves could have been made if the fire service had been contacted earlier.
Mr Chiketa described the incident as regrettable and stressed that it could have been avoided if the discharge had been done at night. He urged petrol station operators to cultivate the habit of discharging products during the night.
He further advised filling station owners to always keep safety fire equipment, such as industrial fire extinguishers and sand buckets, and to ensure their premises were spacious and accessible in case of emergencies.
According to him, over six petrol pump stands, the truck conveying the product, and three other utility vehicles were razed in the fire.
Reacting to the incident, the owner of the filling station and Chief Executive Officer of Okeb Filling Station in Amawbia, Mr Okechukwu Ebele, said that though he lost a lot to the fire, he was grateful to God for the safety of his workers who were present at the time of the incident.
Meanwhile, an eyewitness and artisan at the scene, Mr Uche Ifeleoma, said that a truck had arrived at the station with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to discharge, but the services of an electrical technician were required before the discharge could commence.
He explained that while the technician was working on the truck, an electrical spark occurred, igniting the fire, and before any control could be applied, the blaze overwhelmed the people on site.
“We made frantic efforts to contact the state fire service through the emergency phone line when it was obvious that the sand buckets were not going to be useful, but the phone lines were not going through.
‘’I did not know how the state fire service eventually heard, but they arrived at the scene about 2:40 p.m. Luckily, the restaurant building was saved, along with some small parts of the complex,” he said.
The Okeb Filling Station comprises sections for PMS, DPK, AGO, a mini mart, a lubricant shop, a restaurant, among other facilities.
