An inferno on Sunday razed five shops and damaged part of a storey building at Ita-Amodu, Niger Junction, Ilorin, Kwara State.
The Kwara State Fire Service, in a statement issued on Sunday by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, said the incident happened at about 1:36 pm.
The blaze affected a storey building containing three-bedroom flats and 10 shops, leaving five of the shops and the building’s parapet damaged.
Adekunle said mattresses and sofa production materials, among the goods kept in the affected shops, helped to fuel the intensity and quick spread of the fire.
“The incident involved a storey building comprising about three-bedroom flats and 10 shops, with five shops and the parapet affected by the inferno,” the statement read.
“Among the commodities involved were mattresses and sofa materials, which are highly combustible due to the materials used in their production, thereby contributing to the intensity and rapid spread of the fire.”
Adekunle explained that the agency’s first fire appliance arrived when the blaze had already become fully developed and was engulfing the building, leading to the immediate deployment of another appliance to strengthen the operation.
“Due to the magnitude of the inferno, a second fire appliance was immediately deployed to reinforce the firefighting operation,” he said.
The service said its firefighters worked to stop the blaze from extending to nearby properties and eventually controlled the fire at approximately 2:05 pm.
“The firefighters demonstrated remarkable courage, professionalism and determination, working tirelessly to prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining properties. Their concerted efforts successfully brought the fire under control at about 14:05hrs,” Adekunle said.
Officials of the Federal Fire Service also participated in the operation, while the Kwara State Fire Service said the joint effort helped to contain the inferno and avert additional destruction.
“Personnel of the Federal Fire Service were also present at the scene and joined the Kwara State Fire Service in the firefighting operation. The collaboration between both agencies contributed significantly to mitigating the impact of the inferno and preventing further escalation,” Adekunle said.
The cause of the fire remained unknown as of the time of filing this report and was still being investigated. The Chief Fire Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, praised personnel from both agencies for their role in bringing the blaze under control.
He especially commended Kwara Fire Service personnel for their prompt response and reinforcement, noting that their intervention stopped the fire from spreading outside the affected premises.
The fire service advised business operators handling combustible goods, such as mattresses, upholstery and related products, to give priority to fire safety precautions and make suitable firefighting equipment available at their premises.
