A newborn baby and its parents have narrowly escaped death after a fire outbreak ravaged buildings and businesses along Lawyer Lambo Street in Oloje Phase 2, Ilorin, Kwara State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, October 27, 2026, leaving several properties damaged, including a vehicle, a vulcanising workshop, residential buildings and a travel and tours office.
According to the Kwara State Fire Service, the family was rescued by members of the community after fire severely affected their room-and-parlour self-contained apartment.
The agency disclosed that it received a distress call at about 2:41 a.m. and immediately deployed firefighters to the scene in Ilorin West Local Government Area.
Preliminary findings by the fire service indicated that the incident was triggered by the collapse of a concrete pole supporting a 33-kilovolt (33kV) electricity transmission line.
The fallen transmission line reportedly landed on a vehicle, causing a spark that ignited its tyre before the fire spread rapidly to nearby structures.
One vehicle was completely burnt, while firefighters successfully rescued two other vehicles from the flames.
The fire also damaged parts of another four-bedroom flat, particularly its kitchen, where electrical appliances, including a freezer, were affected. The building’s solar power system was also damaged.
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An adjoining travel and tours office suffered damage to its solar power system, four tubular batteries and other electrical equipment, while a nearby vulcanising workshop was destroyed.
The Kwara State Fire Service explained that the fallen high-tension line posed a serious electrical hazard to emergency responders. Consequently, the agency contacted the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) control room to request a shutdown of the electricity feeder supplying the affected area.
The measure was aimed at protecting firefighters and enabling them to manage the emergency safely.
Reacting to the incident, the Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, sympathised with residents, property owners and business operators affected by the fire.
He warned residents against erecting buildings beneath high-tension transmission lines and urged property developers to comply with approved safety setbacks around electricity infrastructure.
Muhammed also advised the public to report fallen electricity poles, damaged infrastructure and exposed transmission lines promptly, warning residents against touching fallen wires or objects in contact with them.
The fire service commended community members who helped rescue the newborn and its parents, emphasising the importance of public cooperation during emergencies.
The incident occurred less than 24 hours after another fire destroyed a building containing three-bedroom flats in Kangile Village, Ilorin South Local Government Area, on Monday.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over electrical safety and the need for residents to observe precautionary measures around high-voltage power infrastructure.
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