Twin fire outbreak razes shops, residential building in Kwara

Two separate fire incidents on Monday caused significant damage in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State. The first blaze erupted around 1:50 a.m. at Gaa Akanbi, engulfing a row of ten containerized shops. Firefighters managed to control the fire, but five of the shops sustained severe damage. Preliminary investigations suggest a power surge ignited combustible materials stored within the affected containers.

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This was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Ilorin by the spokesperson of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle.

The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the incident, stating they responded swiftly to the emergency alert. Their coordinated efforts prevented the flames from spreading to adjacent shops and nearby structures. The Director of the Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, cautioned traders about electrical safety, advising the use of standard installations and surge protection devices, especially in areas with unstable electricity.

A second fire broke out later the same day, around 10:56 a.m., on Ladipo Street, also in the Gaa Akanbi area. This incident affected a twin flat, each with four bedrooms. The sitting room of one flat was destroyed by the fire, which also appears to have originated from a power surge linked to the building's power changeover switch igniting nearby materials.

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Shop owners and residents should ensure the use of standard electrical installations and surge protection devices, especially in business premises prone to unstable electricity supply.

Firefighters again contained the blaze, preventing further spread. Alabi reiterated the importance of proper electrical installations by certified technicians and warned against makeshift connections. He also advised business owners to switch off appliances when not in use, avoid overloading sockets, and keep fire extinguishers readily accessible.

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Residents should ensure proper installation and regular maintenance of electrical systems, particularly power changeover switches and electrical panels, by qualified technicians.