Property estimated to be worth millions of naira was destroyed on Friday after a fire outbreak razed three vehicles and a community power house at a filling station in the Kara area of Kishi, Irepo Local Government Area of Oyo State.
An eyewitness disclosed that the incident occurred at about 5:00 p.m. following an explosion in the power house, which ignited flammable materials nearby and quickly spread to adjoining property within the filling station.
Findings revealed that the fire affected a Volvo truck with registration number AGG 731 GB (Lagos), a Golf 3 car with registration number KUT 403 AP, and an unladen DAF truck bearing registration number GB0 14 AB.
Confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, said the agency received a distress call at exactly 5:21 p.m. on Friday, January 9.
According to him, firefighters led by Assistant Fire Superintendent Akande E.O. were immediately deployed to the scene after the report was received. Upon arrival, the responders found the power house and the three vehicles already engulfed in flames.
Akinwande explained that the fire service personnel acted swiftly to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading to the main filling station and nearby structures.
“No casualty was recorded, although property worth several millions of naira was destroyed. The prompt intervention of the firefighters saved the filling station and surrounding buildings from further damage,” he said.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was triggered by an explosion within the power house, which ignited combustible materials stored nearby.
The fire service boss advised filling station operators and business owners across the state to strictly observe fire safety regulations. He stressed the importance of installing and maintaining functional fire extinguishers in commercial premises and homes to control fire incidents at early stages.
He also urged residents to promptly report fire outbreaks through the agency’s emergency numbers to enable rapid response.
