Residents escape as fire guts building, laundry shop in Kwara

Residents of an eight-room building in Ilorin, Kwara State, escaped a fire unharmed early Tuesday morning after a blaze engulfed an attached laundry shop. The incident occurred around 3:58 a.m. in the Assu-Luxury Quarters, off University Road, Tanke area.

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

Firefighters were swiftly dispatched and managed to contain the fire by 4:25 a.m., successfully preventing it from spreading to the residential units and adjacent structures. The fire service concluded their operation at the scene by 4:42 a.m.

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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 the fire originated from a power surge, likely due to a pressing iron left switched on for an extended period. However, the fire service stated that a more comprehensive investigation is underway to determine the exact cause.

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

In response to the incident, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, urged business owners, particularly those in the laundry sector, to prioritize electrical safety. He advised ensuring appliances are switched off after use and never left unattended. Muhammed also emphasized the importance of regular electrical inspections, using standard appliances, and installing surge protection devices to mitigate fire risks.

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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.