Midnight inferno destroys two apartments in Kwara

A midnight fire caused by a power surge has destroyed two room-and-parlour self-contained apartments in a residential building opposite Metropolitan Square along Asa-Dam Road in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The incident was confirmed by the Kwara State Fire Service in a statement released on Saturday by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle.

According to the statement, firefighters responded swiftly to the emergency, successfully containing the blaze before it could spread to other apartments within the building or nearby structures.

The Fire Service credited the quick response of its personnel with preventing a more devastating incident, as the adjoining building and other residential units were protected from the flames.

According to him, “The agency received a distress call at about 2:27 a.m. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 2:35 a.m. and brought the fire under control by about 2:40 a.m.”

Hassan explained that the affected property comprised eight room-and-parlour self-contained apartments alongside a storey building containing four-bedroom flats.

He added that the fire was confined to two of the self-contained apartments, while the remaining apartments and the adjoining storey building were successfully saved.

“Firefighters arrived at the scene at 02:35hrs and swiftly commenced firefighting operations. Through their prompt and professional response, the fire was successfully brought under control at about 02:40hrs, thereby preventing further destruction,” Hassan said.

The fire service said preliminary findings showed that a power surge ignited combustible materials inside the affected apartments.

Reacting to the incident, the Chief Fire Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, urged residents to prioritise electrical safety to guard against similar incidents.

He said, “Residents should install surge protection devices and use only standard electrical fittings in their homes. Property owners should also carry out regular inspections and maintenance of electrical wiring and avoid overloading electrical outlets.”

Muhammed further advised members of the public to promptly alert the fire service whenever a fire outbreak occurs, stressing that early reporting significantly improves the chances of saving lives and property.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Kwara State Fire Service to protecting lives and property through prompt emergency response, professionalism and sustained public fire safety awareness.

The latest incident comes five days after a power surge triggered another fire outbreak in a 14-room residential building in Ilorin on July 20. Firefighters also contained the blaze before it spread to nearby buildings, with the fire service similarly attributing the incident to an electrical surge.

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