Fire Razes Abia Fuel Station, Spares Ex-Governor’s Office
A high intensity fire, on Saturday, engulfed a fuel- station located along Aba Road, Umuahia, directly beside the constituency office of the senator representing Abia Central, T. A. Orji which was partially spared.
The fire which started at about 9.00am during the state’s environmental sanitation emanated from a 48-foot tanker discharging gas at the station.
The inferno has been referred to as “hell on earth” by onlookers as it spread to the senator’s office.
All attempts by men of fire service to put out the fire were impossible as a result of the intensity of the fire and absence of water in the fire service trucks.
While addressing the pressmen, the Secretary to the State Government, Chris Ezem, stated that the state government had noted the issue of location of fuel stations within residential areas in the state, saying that the state government would soon come out with statement on that.
The Abia State Chief of Staff, COS Prof. Anthony C B Agbazuere, also promised that the state government would review the policy on fuel station location in the state and warned fuel station owners not to keep petroleum products in tankers for over 24 hours.
He classified the fire as Class “B”, stating that a joint team of federal and state fire service put out the fire that lasted for over four hours.
Similarly, a former Special Adviser to the state governor, Allibion Dada, advised that naked light and phone calls should be avoided at fuel stations.
