A midnight fire caused by a power surge has damaged two room-and-parlour self-contained apartments in a residential building opposite Metropolitan Square, off Asa-Dam Road in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle.
According to the statement, the swift response of firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to other apartments within the building and to a nearby residential property.
“The agency received a distress call at about 2:27 a.m. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 2:35 a.m. and brought the fire under control by about 2:40 a.m.,” Adekunle said.
He explained that the affected property consists of eight room-and-parlour self-contained apartments alongside an adjoining storey building containing four-bedroom flats.
The fire was contained within two of the self-contained apartments, while the remaining apartments and the adjacent building were successfully protected from the flames.
“Firefighters arrived at the scene at 02:35hrs and swiftly commenced firefighting operations. Through their prompt and professional response, the fire was successfully brought under control at about 02:40hrs, thereby preventing further destruction,” Hassan added.
Preliminary investigations by the fire service indicated that the blaze was triggered by a power surge, which ignited combustible materials inside the affected apartments.
Reacting to the incident, the Chief Fire Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, urged residents to take electrical safety seriously to reduce the risk of similar fire outbreaks.
“Residents should install surge protection devices and use only standard electrical fittings in their homes. Property owners should also carry out regular inspections and maintenance of electrical wiring and avoid overloading electrical outlets,” he advised.
Muhammed also encouraged members of the public to notify the fire service immediately whenever a fire breaks out, stressing that early reporting greatly improves the chances of saving lives and property.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property through rapid emergency response, professional service delivery, and sustained public awareness on fire prevention.
The latest incident occurred just five days after another fire, also linked to a power surge, damaged a 14-room residential building in Ilorin on July 20. In that case, firefighters successfully prevented the flames from spreading to neighbouring buildings, with the fire service likewise attributing the outbreak to an electrical surge.
