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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Few people were said to have sustained injuries in the inferno that razed a filling station, students’ hostel and a shopping complex in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The spokesperson of the state fire service, Adekunle Ibrahim, in a statement, yesterday, said the fire started around 5pm on Tuesday, at POPULAT filling station in the Lagere area, Ile-Ife.
He said there no life was lost to the inferno, but the number of people who sustained injuries could not be ascertained at the time of filling this report.
He said: “Men of the state Fire Service at Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife promptly responded to the scene, and having assessed the nature of a fire, backup was sought, and this was provided by State Fire Service Headquarters and OAU Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife.
“The cause of the fire cannot be ascertained as of the time of this report, the team of fire investigators, led by the Director of Fire Service, Mr Olubunmi Oyelami, went to the scene of the incident, Wednesday, for on-the-spot assessment of the level of damage done by the inferno as well as the cause of the fire.
“It was, however, discovered that an explosion occurred with a gas cylinder of about five tons capacity sited behind the station house of the popular petrol station, and the bang from the explosion caused havoc to all adjoining developments around the station, such as students’ hostel, shopping complex, a commercial bank and some other cooperate offices.”
He advised the people and business owners to do away with anything that could lead to a fire outbreak and get all portable first aid firefighting equipment, such as extinguishers handy, to curtail fires at an incipient stage.
“The outcome of the investigation to ascertain the main causes of the fire will be made public as soon as the investigation is concluded,” Adekunle said.
