Disaster Averted as Rumuolumeni Youths and residents Mobilize to Quell Fuel Tanker Fire at Iwofe Road, Port Harcourt

BY IBRAHIM BAKARE

Major fire disaster that engulfed Heritage Petrol Station located along Iwofe Road, Rumuolumeni in Obio-Akpor local government area, suburb of Port Harcourt was averted today, Tuesday, September 22 due the timely intervention of community effort of youths of the area.

Rumuolumeni youths celebrate after they fought to put out the fire at Heritage Petrol Station

Petrol Station on fire

Remains of Petrol Station after the fire was put out.

Residents of the area of Rumuolumeni and it’s environs rallied round to put out the fire  at the Heritage Filling Station that would been razed completely putting the lives of residents and other properties in the neighbourhood at risk.

The cause of the fire was traceable to a tanker dispensing fuel at the filling station which went up in flames at about 6am today, Tuesday, September 22.

Some of the youths who spoke with Port Harcourt based journalist, Allwell Ene at the scene said early callers at the scene started calling the state fire service from 6am but they delayed in responding to the distress calls.

One of the youths simply identified as Micheal said the youths decided to rally round to save the situation before it gets out hand.

He said by the time the fire service team arrived, the youtha had succeeded in fighting the inferno.

It was gathered that for a section of the filling station which was defaced by the inferno, there were no casualties.

Meanwhile Tuesday morning’s outbreak is the third fire incident in four days and in each case, the State Fire Service has failed to respond on time to save the situation.