Firefighters in Oyo State have averted a possible explosion after a 14,000-litre Mercedes-Benz tanker truck caught fire along Eleyele Road, Ibadan.

The incident, which occurred opposite the Nursing School, Eleyele, was reported to the Oyo State Fire Services Agency at about 6:37 p.m., following a distress call.

According to the agency, the tanker, with registration number EKY 531 YK (Lagos), was carrying Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), but was empty when the incident occurred.

Personnel of the agency, led by one Adigun, promptly responded to the scene and applied water to the tanker to prevent the fire from escalating into an explosion.

The firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze within a short period, while no casualty was recorded in the incident.

The agency attributed the fire to sparks from the engine compartment.

The operation was carried out with the support of a Federal Fire Service team led by one Adebodun, policemen from the Eleyele Divisional Headquarters led by CSP Grace Akinseyin, and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from the Oyo State Headquarters, Eleyele, led by Inspector Akinpelu.

The firefighting appliance returned safely to the station at about 8:19 p.m. and was placed on standby.

The Special Adviser on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Dr. Moroof Adebayo Akinwande, urged motorists and members of the public to regularly maintain their vehicles and observe road traffic regulations to reduce the risk of fire and road accidents.

Akinwande also stressed the importance of installing fire extinguishers in public and commercial premises and other properties to enable occupants tackle fire outbreaks at the early stage.

He urged residents to promptly report fire incidents and provide accurate addresses to emergency responders.