The occurrence, which transpired at approximately 6 p.m. on Monday, August 28, 2023, resulted in significant traffic congestion on the primary dual carriageway in Jos.
According to acquired information, the traffic warden positioned at the Old Airport roundabout promptly redirected vehicles away from the lane in order to mitigate potential impact on other drivers.
According to accounts provided by eyewitnesses, the fire originated from beneath the car, posing a challenge for the effective deployment of small fire extinguishers to reach the point of origin. The fire was extinguished only upon the arrival of the fire service at the location.
The observers detected the presence of smoke emanating from beneath the vehicle. Interestingly, the occupants remained oblivious to the smoke, likely due to the fact that the fire did not originate from the engine compartment. According to a witness named Amos Gyang, it was brought to their attention to cease their activities, and upon realizing the presence of the fire, all individuals promptly evacuated the area in order to ensure their safety (Gyang, as cited in Daily Trust).
The automobile was abandoned and allowed to undergo combustion subsequent to multiple drivers depleting their fire suppression devices. As the quantity of extinguishing agents used to the vehicle increased, so did the extent of the flame propagation.
Approximately half an hour following the occurrence, personnel from the state fire department arrived at the scene, successfully extinguishing the fire within a span of 10 minutes. However, the vehicle has been significantly damaged by the fire.