Three firefighters sustained varying degrees of injuries while battling the massive fire that engulfed the AYM Shafa Filling Station in Abuja on Thursday night, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service has confirmed.

The incident occurred at the filling station in Area 3, Garki, after a petrol tanker reportedly exploded, triggering a blaze that spread across parts of the facility and nearby structures.

Speaking on Friday, the Public Relations Officer of the FCT Fire Service, Ibrahim Muhammad, said emergency responders received a distress call at about 9:44 p.m. and immediately deployed personnel and firefighting equipment to the scene.

He explained that the scale of the fire required a coordinated response involving multiple emergency agencies.

“Owing to the magnitude of the incident, other fire service authorities also joined the emergency response, resulting in a coordinated inter-agency firefighting operation,” Muhammad said.

He disclosed that three firefighters were seriously injured during efforts to contain the inferno.

According to him, one of the injured officers is receiving intensive medical care at the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital, Abuja, while the other two are being treated at Alliance Hospital in Area 11, Garki.

“Medical specialists are making every effort to ensure the recovery of the firefighter receiving intensive care, while the other two continue to receive treatment,” he added.

Muhammad said investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing and urged members of the public to avoid speculation until the outcome of the official inquiry is made public.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the fire extensively damaged the filling station and affected adjoining properties.

He said a fuel tanker carrying about 45,000 litres of petroleum products was completely engulfed by the fire.

The assessment also showed that 13 fuel dispensing pumps were located within the affected premises, with three of them directly destroyed by the blaze.

In addition, two civilian vehicles were completely burnt, while parts of the Federal Revenue Service (FRS) office and sections of Ahmad Plaza, a two-storey commercial building adjacent to the filling station, also sustained damage.

Muhammad commended the cooperation of sister emergency agencies, security personnel and members of the public whose support contributed to the coordinated response.

He also praised the courage and professionalism displayed by firefighters and other emergency personnel, noting that their swift intervention prevented the incident from escalating into a far greater disaster.

The Fire Service urged operators of filling stations, commercial establishments and members of the public to adhere strictly to fire safety regulations, ensure regular maintenance of fire protection systems and promptly report fire emergencies through the appropriate emergency channels.

The Director of the FCT Fire Service, Adebayo Zacchaeus, expressed concern over the condition of the injured firefighters and appealed to Nigerians to keep them in their thoughts and prayers as they receive medical treatment.

He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to protecting lives and property through rapid emergency response, public awareness and strict enforcement of fire safety standards.

The emergency operation was personally supervised by the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel, alongside the Director of the FCT Fire Service and other tactical and rescue personnel.