Afeez Hanafi
A Principal Fire Officer, Lagos State Fire Service, Padonu Jacob, shares his experience battling the tanker explosion.
How did you respond to the distress call?
We were called around 5.25pm. We left the office with a water tanker. As I was approaching the scene with my crew, I saw heavy smoke billowing to the sky. From the Secretariat, Alausa, we took under the bridge to link the scene. By the time we got there, the fire had spread. We had to call the control room for another water tanker, which was deployed immediately. We started by curbing the fire from where we met it to avoid more casualties. We met it near the Otedola Housing Estate and ensured that it did not spread into the estate and other vehicles that were coming behind.
What is your impression about the incident?
In my 10 years in fire service, I have handled a lot of fire incidents, but they were not as much as this due to the number of vehicles that were consumed and the casualties involved. I sympathise with people who lost their loved ones and those whose properties were engulfed by the fire.
What impact did the incident have on you?
The radiation was much but it has become part and parcel of me. There is no way you will fight fire without feeling the radiation. Although the necessary safety apparatus and equipment were provided, the smoke covered me and I experienced the heat. Notwithstanding, I had to tackle the fire because that is what I was employed for. I cannot run away from it.
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