Kwara tanker driver injured in filling station fire

A petrol tanker driver, on Wednesday, sustained an injury in a fire incident which gulped Bovas filling station in the Odota area, along Airport Road, Ilorin in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The fire incident which started at about 7.30am involved a petrol tanker with registration number AGG 728 XK carrying 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit which was about to be offloaded at the Bovas filling station.

The fire, according to the state fire service, was said to have emanated from an ignition that occurred from the hose used in siphoning petrol into the tank at the filling station.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the state fire service, Hassan Adekunle, in a statement, said, “On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 07:44 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service swiftly responded to a fire incident at Bovas filling station in Odota, opposite Magaji Odota area, along Airport Road, Ilorin.

“Upon arrival at the scene, firefighters encountered a blaze involving a petrol tanker with Registration Number AGG 728 XK carrying 45,000 litres of PMS.

“The tanker was in the process of siphoning PMS into the filling station’s reservoir when a spontaneous ignition occurred from the hose, leading to the fire outbreak.

“The dedicated fire crew immediately sprang into action, employing their firefighting expertise to bring the inferno under control in less than an hour. Their swift response ensured that nearby buildings were spared from the ravages of the fire.

“Unfortunately, the petrol tanker suffered severe damage, and the tanker driver sustained minor burns. However, it is expected that with proper medical care, the driver will recover from the accident”, Adekunle said.

The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade Olumuyiwa, expressed sympathy to the management of Bovas filling station and stressed the importance of maintaining safety awareness in filling stations at all times.