A midnight fire triggered by a suspected power surge destroyed two self-contained apartments in a residential building in Ilorin, Kwara State, in the early hours of Saturday.
The incident occurred at a property located opposite Metropolitan Square along Asa-Dam Road. Emergency responders from the Kwara State Fire Service were alerted to the fire shortly after 2:20 a.m. and arrived at the scene within minutes.
Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control, preventing it from spreading to other apartments in the compound and a nearby storey building. Their prompt response limited the damage and averted what could have been a more devastating incident.
The affected property comprises eight room-and-parlour self-contained apartments, with only two of the units damaged by the fire. An adjoining residential building containing four-bedroom flats was also successfully protected from the flames.
Preliminary findings by the fire service indicated that the fire was caused by a power surge, which ignited combustible materials inside one of the affected apartments before spreading to the second unit.
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The Chief Fire Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service urged residents to take electrical safety seriously by installing surge protection devices, using standard electrical fittings, and ensuring regular maintenance of electrical wiring. He also advised against overloading electrical sockets, warning that such practices increase the risk of fire outbreaks.
Residents were further encouraged to notify the fire service immediately whenever a fire occurs, stressing that early emergency calls improve the chances of saving lives and property.
The latest incident comes only a few days after another fire linked to a power surge affected a residential building in Ilorin, highlighting growing concerns over electrical safety in homes across the state.
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