A Makpetrol gas station located in one of the most densely populated parts of Skopje nearly avoided a catastrophic fire yesterday.

Eyewitnesses reported that smoke began to bellow out of the station and alarms sounded, after which most people fled the scene. One heroic employee took it upon himself to try to extinguish the fire until firefighters arrived and put the situation under control, avoiding an explosion.

Police cordoned off the area between the Government building and the St. Clement of Ohrid cathedral until the danger has passed.