No fewer than 17 tricycles and two petrol tankers were destroyed following separate fire outbreaks at filling stations in Kano State, raising fresh concerns over safety compliance during fuel handling and offloading operations.
The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incidents on Wednesday, noting that the infernos occurred at different locations within the metropolis late Tuesday night. Although no casualties were recorded at the filling stations, the scale of destruction highlighted the risks associated with improper fuel transfer procedures.
According to the service, swift intervention by firefighters prevented the blazes from escalating into larger disasters, especially in densely populated areas.
Fire Erupts During Petrol Offloading
The first incident occurred at AA Ayagi Filling Station in Kanye village along Gwarzo Road, Kabo Local Government Area, at about 8:45 pm. The Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, said the fire broke out while a petrol tanker was offloading Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
He explained that the tanker, owned by AA Ayagi Company, was already partially discharged when the fire started. Two compartments had been emptied into an underground tank, while three remaining compartments containing about 5,000 litres of petrol were still being offloaded.
Firefighters from the Rijiyar Zaki division responded promptly to a distress call and succeeded in containing the inferno. However, the tanker truck was completely destroyed by the blaze before it could be extinguished.
Second Blaze Destroys Tricycles, Tanker
The second fire incident occurred at Al-Wahida Nigeria Limited filling station, located at Rimin Kebe Karshen Kwalta in Nassarawa Local Government Area. Abdullahi disclosed that a tanker belonging to BA Bello Company, carrying about 45,000 litres of petroleum products, caught fire during offloading.
The blaze destroyed the truck head, parts of the tanker body and 17 tricycles popularly known as Adaidaita Sahu, which were parked within the premises. He added that divine intervention and quick response by firefighters prevented the fire from spreading further, saving part of the fuel and tanker structure.
Meanwhile, a separate fire outbreak at Kundila Quarters near SALSA College damaged a residential building, destroying one room, a toilet and a corridor.
Fire Service Warns Fuel Operators
Reacting to the incidents, the Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Sani Anas, urged filling station operators and tanker drivers to strictly adhere to safety regulations, particularly during fuel offloading and handling of flammable materials.
He warned that negligence and disregard for standard safety procedures could result in loss of lives, property and environmental damage, especially in urban areas where filling stations are close to residential buildings.
The incidents come amid growing concerns over fire safety nationwide, following a recent outbreak at the Guangdong Free Trade Zone in Igbesa, Ogun State, where flames spread from an industrial facility to nearby residential areas.