Late-night fire destroys three containerised shops in Kwara

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A late-night fire outbreak has destroyed three containerised shops at Eyenkorin Roundabout in the Apata area of Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, leaving shop owners counting their losses.

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PUNCH Online gathered that the incident occurred at about 11:57 p.m. on Wednesday when the Kwara State Fire Service received a distress call and swiftly mobilised firefighters to the scene to prevent further damage.

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According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, PFO Hassan Adekunle, the inferno involved six containerised shops located around the busy Eyenkorin Roundabout.

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“The incident involved six containerised shops, out of which three were affected by the fire,” Hassan said.

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Preliminary findings by the fire service indicated that the blaze was triggered by a power surge shortly after electricity supply was restored to the area.

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“The cause of the fire was traced to a power surge which occurred immediately after electricity supply was restored, leading to the ignition of nearby combustible materials,” the PRO added.

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Firefighters were said to have responded promptly and worked through the night to contain the situation, preventing the flames from spreading to other shops and nearby properties.

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“Our personnel swiftly mobilised to the scene and worked tirelessly to combat the inferno, successfully bringing the fire under control at about 12:20 a.m., thereby preventing it from spreading to the remaining shops and nearby properties,” the fire service stated.

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The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, CFS Alabi Muhammed, advised shop owners and residents to prioritise electrical safety in their homes and business premises.

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“Shop owners should ensure proper electrical wiring and the use of quality electrical materials in their shops and business premises,” Muhammed said.

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He also urged occupants to switch off electrical appliances when not in use and install portable fire extinguishers for early firefighting in case of minor outbreaks.

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The latest incident adds to a series of fire outbreaks recorded in Kwara in recent months. On February 27, a 52-year-old man died in a late-night fire that razed a short-let apartment building along Coca-Cola Road in Ilorin, the state capital.

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Emergency responders have repeatedly warned residents and business operators to adopt preventive safety measures, noting that many recent incidents have been linked to electrical faults and power surges.

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