Twin fire outbreak razes shops, residential building in Kwara

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Two separate fire incidents on Monday have destroyed parts of containerised shops and a residential building in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.

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The PUNCH gathered that the incidents, which occurred within Ilorin South Local Government Area, were responded to by the Kwara State Fire Service.

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The first Monday incident happened at about 01:50hrs at Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin South, where fire gutted a row of containerised shops.

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The blaze reportedly affected ten containerised shops, out of which five were severely damaged before firefighters brought the situation under control.

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Preliminary investigation indicated that the fire was triggered by a power surge, which ignited combustible materials stored within the affected shops.

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Confirming the incident in a statement issued later in the day, the spokesperson of the Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said the agency received an emergency alert and responded swiftly to the scene.

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

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Firefighters, according to officials, deployed coordinated efforts that prevented the flames from spreading to adjoining shops and nearby structures.

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The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, warned traders to adopt safer electrical practices in commercial environments.

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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,” he said.

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He further advised business owners to always switch off appliances when not in use, avoid overloading sockets, and keep fire extinguishers within reach to curb early-stage outbreaks.

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In a second incident on the same day at about 10:56 hours, a fire broke out on Ladipo Street, Gaa Akanbi, also in the Ilorin South Local Government Area.

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The fire affected a twin flat comprising four bedrooms on each side, with the sitting room of one of the flats destroyed by the flames.

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Investigations showed that the fire originated from a power surge linked to the building’s power changeover switch, which ignited nearby combustible materials.

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Firefighters were again able to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building and adjoining properties.

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Reiterating safety concerns, Alabi urged residents to prioritise proper electrical installations by certified technicians.

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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,” he said.

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He also cautioned against makeshift electrical connections and stressed the importance of surge protectors and prompt reporting of fire incidents.

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The development comes barely 24 hours after an early-morning fire gutted a residential building at Tewo-Gbore Street, Ogele Ori-Sunbare in the Eyenkorin area of Asa Local Government Area, destroying parts of the property on Sunday.

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The Fire Service reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across Kwara State through rapid emergency response and sustained fire safety awareness campaigns.

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