Three firefighters sustained varying degrees of injuries while battling a massive fire that erupted at the AYM Shafa filling station in Area 3, Garki, Abuja, on Thursday night after a petrol-laden tanker exploded.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service said it received a distress call at about 9:44 p.m. and immediately deployed firefighters and emergency equipment to the scene to contain the blaze.

Speaking on Friday, the Public Relations Officer of the FCT Fire Service, Ibrahim Muhammad, said the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, adding that investigations are ongoing.

He urged members of the public to avoid speculation and allow the outcome of the official investigation to establish the cause of the incident.

Muhammad said preliminary findings showed that the fire engulfed a fuel tanker carrying about 45,000 litres of petroleum products and affected parts of the filling station as well as adjoining structures.

According to him, the station had 13 fuel dispensing pumps, three of which were destroyed by the fire. He added that two civilian vehicles were completely burnt during the incident.

He further disclosed that sections of the Federal Revenue Service office and parts of Ahmad Plaza, a two-storey commercial building located beside the filling station, also suffered damage.

The fire service spokesman commended the swift response of firefighters, describing their intervention as instrumental in preventing the fire from escalating into a more devastating disaster.

He also appreciated the support of other emergency response agencies, security personnel and members of the public who assisted in ensuring a coordinated response throughout the operation.

Muhammad called on operators of filling stations and other commercial facilities to comply strictly with fire safety regulations, maintain functional fire protection systems and promptly report emergencies through the appropriate channels.

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

He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protecting lives and property through prompt emergency response, public education and the enforcement of fire safety standards.

The emergency operation was 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.