Fire destroys eight rooms in Ilorin

A fire early in the morning has burned down eight rooms in a residential building at Alangua Compound, opposite Kulende Market, in the Sango area of Ilorin, Kwara State.

The fire broke out on Wednesday and also threatened about 20 shops in the building before firefighters arrived to control the situation.

The Kwara State Fire Service said they got a distress call at 5:16 am and reached the scene by 5:32 am. By then, the building was already on fire.

Hassan Adekunle, the Public Relations Officer for the fire service, shared this information in a statement sent to The PUNCH in Ilorin.

Firefighters started their work right after arriving and managed to bring the fire under control by 6:10 am.

The preliminary investigations pointed to the fire starting shortly after electricity was restored in the area. The statement said, "The fire affected eight rooms, while other adjoining buildings were successfully protected from the spread of the flames through the swift and coordinated intervention of our personnel."

According to the agency, smoke was seen coming from one of the rooms a short while after the electricity came back on.

The affected room had a large amount of used rubber slippers and flip-flops collected by scavengers for recycling. The agency noted, "The combustible nature of the materials contributed significantly to the rapid spread of the fire."

The fire service added that the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Alabi Muhammed, the Chief Fire Officer, praised the firefighters for their hard work, professionalism, and commitment to controlling the fire.

He also warned residents, traders, and recycling operators not to keep flammable materials carelessly, especially rubber products, plastics, foam, and other highly flammable items.

Muhammed urged the public to store such materials in well-ventilated and designated areas, away from any potential sources of fire.

He emphasised the need for quick reporting of fire incidents so that firefighters can respond faster and reduce damage. "Early notification gives firefighters a better opportunity to minimise damage and protect surrounding properties," he said.

This incident happened just two weeks after another fire destroyed a building with three-bedroom flats in Kangile Village, Ilorin South Local Government Area, on October 26.