The timely intervention by personnel of the National Fire Service on Friday night prevented what could have been a national disaster when a fuel tanker spilled petrol at a service station in Kumasi.

The tanker was leaving the Unity Oil Station at Santasi Roundabout after discharging a consignment when it overturned resulting in the spillage.

Fears of potential fire outbreak caused residents in nearby houses and hawkers around the scene to flee before police and fire service personnel arrived to manage the situation.

Security personnel immediately cordoned off the fuel station area and closed some major roads to restrain motorists from coming into contact with the fast-spreading fuel.

Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, Philip Aheng –Mensah, told Nhyira FM the presence of the police helped in managing the situation.

“We had a message that a tanker has fallen on its side at the Unity Oil Filling Station. When we came; it was true and the fuel was spilling. The police also came in with their numbers and they assisted so we didn’t have much of a difficulty,” Mr. Aheng-Mensah said.

Personnel had to apply foam to cool the fuel and to also suppress release of flammable vapours that can mix with air to cause fire.

“You can see what the foam does is that; it cuts off supply of oxygen because three things come together to give you a fire. That’s the heat, the fuel and oxygen but if you are able to cut off supply of one of them, then you don’t have fire,” Mr Aheng-Mensah explained.

Major roads from Santasi to Adum, Bantama and other parts of the metropolis remained closed at the time of filing this report whilst fire service personnel work overnight to bring the situation under control.