Motorist arrested for causing fire that razed down petrol station – VIDEO
The motorist who caused a fire that razed down a Shell petrol station in Kasarani on Saturday morning has been arrested.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has said the fire started after the motorist sped off to avoid paying for fuel with the fuel pipe still inside the vehicle’s tank.
A video of the moment when the fire broke out at the petrol station has been widely shared on social media.
In the video, the grey saloon vehicle is seen fueling at on of the pumps at the petrol station before suddenly speeding off.
As the motorist accelerates the entire fuel pump is yanked off from its base on the ground before exploding into a massive ball of fire as other motorists and attendants scamper for safety.
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“Friction between the ground and the pump produced sparks which ignited a fire that quickly spread. The driver has since been apprehended by the police,” ERC said in a statement.
Fire fighters from the Nairobi County Fire Brigade arrived at the scene moments later and managed to extinguish the fire which had engulfed the entire petrol station.
While no injuries were reported in the early Saturday morning incident, the station was extensively damaged.
The Commission has advised all motorists to adhere to the advisory to switch off their engines while fueling for personal safety reasons.
Meanwhile, Vivo Energy said that the station has since been closed.