Fire outbreak averted as fuel tanker Spilled petrol on Ilorin street

 By Ola Taiwo

Tanker loaded with about 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) spilled a large quantity of fuel at a filling station in Ilorin on Saturday, triggering a major emergency and raising 

Fears of fire outbreak permeated Murtala Mohammed Road in Ilorin on Saturday as a large quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol spilled on the  ground from a fuel tanker  at a filling station in the area.

The incident occurred at about 5:08 p.m. at a filling station on the road which is one of the major roads with heavy trafic in the town.

The Kwara State Fire Service in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Hassan Adekunle, said the tanker had transported PMS from Lagos to Ilorin and was scheduled to discharge one compartment of its three-compartment tank at the filling station.

It said trouble, however, started after officials of the station measured the product and discovered a discrepancy between the expected and actual quantity.

The statement said an attempt to retrieve some quantity from the tanker led to the opening of the valve, after which petrol began gushing out uncontrollably.

The valve reportedly became difficult to control, resulting in a large quantity of fuel spilling across the filling station and flowing towards Post Office side on the road and Amilengbe Road.

The development created a serious safety threat because of the highly inflammable nature of PMS and the presence of motorists, businesses, residents and other petroleum facilities within the vicinity.

The statement said the service while responding to the emergency, deployed chemical foam across the affected areas, including the filling station, Post Office area and Amilengbe Road, to suppress any possibility of ignition and prevent the situation from escalating.

Although no fire was recorded, the fire service said the volume of petrol spilled constituted a serious emergency that required immediate intervention.

The service said traffic diversion helped keep motorists and members of the public away from the danger zone while firefighters worked to contain the spill.

The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters for their courage, professionalism and prompt response, saying their timely intervention prevented what could have been a catastrophic incident.

He also acknowledged the support of the Nigeria Police Force and the Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) for helping to divert and control traffic around Agric, Amilengbe and Post Office areas.

Alabi urged filling station operators and petroleum tanker owners to exercise greater caution during the loading, transportation and discharge of petroleum products.

He stressed the need for valves, hoses and other discharge equipment to be thoroughly inspected and confirmed to be in good working condition before any transfer operation begins.

The Chief Fire Officer also warned members of the public against approaching areas affected by petroleum spills, urging them to immediately contact emergency responders whenever such incidents occur.

He explained that the absence of visible flames does not mean a petrol spill is safe, noting that PMS vapour can ignite rapidly and cause a devastating fire.

The Kwara State Fire Service reiterated its commitment to protecting lives, property and critical infrastructure across the state, while commending its personnel for their dedication and effective handling of the emergency.