Power surge sparks fire in Kwara laundry shop

Residents of an eight-room building in Ilorin, Kwara State, escaped a fire outbreak unharmed early Tuesday morning. The blaze destroyed a laundry shop attached to the property located in the Assu-Luxury Quarters, off University Road, Tanke area.

“

The incident involved a building comprising eight rooms and a laundry shop, where the laundry shop was affected by the fire.

The fire, which started around 3:58 am, prompted an immediate response from the Kwara State Fire Service. Firefighters successfully contained the fire by 4:25 am, preventing it from engulfing the residential apartments and other nearby buildings. The operation concluded by 4:42 am.

“

Firefighters promptly mobilised to the scene and successfully brought the fire under control at about 04:25hrs, preventing it from spreading to the residential apartments and nearby properties.

Preliminary investigations suggest an electrical power surge, possibly from a pressing iron left switched on for an extended period, may have ignited the fire. However, the fire service stated that further investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause.

“

The crew concluded the operation and left the scene at about 04:42hrs.

Following the incident, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, advised business owners, especially those in the laundry sector, to prioritize electrical safety. He urged them to switch off appliances after use, avoid leaving them unattended, and conduct routine electrical inspections. The fire service also recommended using standard appliances and installing surge protection devices to mitigate fire risks.

“

Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was suspected to have been caused by a power surge, possibly from one of the pressing irons that had been left powered for a long period. However, further investigation is still ongoing to ascertain the remote cause of the incident.