The Oyo State Fire Services Agency has prevented a potentially disastrous tanker explosion and contained a separate fire outbreak at a hotel in Ibadan, with no casualty recorded in either incident.

In the first incident, firefighters averted an explosion after a trailer tanker laden with 45,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) swerved off the road and crashed into a ditch along New Moniya Road, Ibadan.

The agency said the incident was reported through a telephone call from a resident, Mr Lekan. A firefighting crew led by an Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent (ACFS) promptly mobilised to the scene, where they found a red FONTO trailer tanker, with registration number FKJ 843 XL (Lagos), in the ditch.

According to the agency, the tanker had veered off the road following an apparent brake failure, resulting in a spill of the petroleum product.

The firefighters immediately deployed foam chemical compounds to blanket the spilled product and brought the situation under control, preventing a possible explosion.

Personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Moniya Division; Nigeria Police Force, Moniya Divisional Headquarters; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Moniya Command; and Amotekun Corps also joined the operation to maintain law and order.

In a separate incident on Wednesday, firefighters contained a blaze at a four-room hotel and lounge at No. 2 Abigeal Makinde Close, Abayomi, Iwo Road, Ibadan.

The fire was reported at about 5:00 a.m. by another resident, Mr Hamed, who alerted the agency after noticing the outbreak.

The firefighting crew, also led by an ACFS, arrived to find the storey building engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing from the premises.

The agency said preliminary assessment indicated that sparks from a solar inverter ignited combustible materials, causing the fire.

Firefighters quickly commenced operations and successfully contained the blaze, preventing it from spreading to adjoining buildings and properties. The fire appliance returned to the station at about 6:34 a.m. and was placed on operational standby.

The Special Adviser on Fire Service Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Dr Moroof Akinwande, urged motorists and residents to remain fire-conscious and ensure regular maintenance of vehicles and electrical equipment.

He also advised residents and property owners to install and regularly maintain functional fire extinguishers to enable them tackle fire outbreaks at the incipient stage.