Fire guts building in Kwara

A fire broke out early Sunday morning, consuming a residential building in the Eyenkorin area of Kwara State, Nigeria. The blaze, which occurred at Tewo-Gbore Street, Ogele Ori-Sunbare, destroyed sections of the property, including a self-contained apartment and a two-bedroom flat.

Firefighters from the Kwara State Fire Service were dispatched promptly after receiving a distress call. Their swift and coordinated response successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to adjacent buildings and minimizing the overall damage. The agency stated that their timely intervention was crucial in saving nearby structures.

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Firefighters swiftly mobilised to the scene and, through their timely and coordinated efforts, successfully contained the fire and saved an adjoining building from being affected.

Initial findings indicate that the fire originated from improperly extinguished charcoal stored near the residential building. According to a statement from the Kwara State Fire Service spokesperson, Hassan Adekunle, sacks of charcoal had recently been unloaded, and residual heat from some of the charcoal reignited when exposed to air, leading to the fire.

In response to the incident, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, issued a warning to charcoal dealers, transporters, and residents. He urged them to handle and store combustible materials carefully, emphasizing the danger of storing such materials close to residential areas. Residents were also advised to remain vigilant and report any fire outbreaks immediately. This incident follows another significant fire that destroyed over 24 shops at the Mandate Ultra-Modern Market in Ilorin just two weeks prior.

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Findings indicated that sacks of charcoal had just been unloaded, and part of the charcoal was not completely extinguished. Upon exposure to air, the residual heat reignited and exacerbated the situation, resulting in the fire spreading to the building.