In a harrowing incident in the early hours of Tuesday, a family in Ilorin, Kwara State, narrowly escaped death as a fire engulfed their apartment, causing extensive damage to several nearby buildings and businesses. The fire broke out around 2:41 am in Oloje Phase 2, specifically on Lawyer Lambo Street, affecting a room-and-parlour self-contained apartment where the family had recently welcomed a newborn baby.

Community members played a crucial role in rescuing the family, as the flames rapidly spread, severely impacting their living space. The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the incident, stating that the fire also destroyed a vulcanising workshop and damaged two other residential buildings, along with an adjoining travel and tours office. One vehicle was completely burnt, while two others were saved by firefighters.

According to a statement from the Kwara State Fire Service, the fire involved two four-bedroom flats and the affected self-contained apartment. The damage extended to the kitchen of one of the flats, where various electrical appliances, including a freezer, were destroyed. Additionally, the solar power generation system of the building was compromised.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was triggered by the collapse of a concrete pole supporting a 33kV electricity transmission line. This fallen line landed on the vehicle that was ultimately destroyed, igniting its tyre and leading to the rapid escalation of the fire. The fire service noted that the fallen transmission line posed a significant hazard to their firefighters, prompting them to contact the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to shut down the electricity supply to the affected area for safety reasons.

Chief Fire Officer Alabi Muhammed expressed sympathy for the victims and urged residents to be cautious about erecting structures near high-tension electricity transmission lines. He highlighted the importance of maintaining safe distances from such infrastructure to prevent future accidents and fires.

Muhammed also encouraged property developers and residents to adhere to safety regulations regarding electrical installations and to report any fallen poles or damaged electrical infrastructure immediately. The fire service commended the community members for their swift action in rescuing the occupants of the apartment and reiterated the importance of cooperation between residents and emergency responders during crises.

This incident comes on the heels of another fire that occurred less than 24 hours earlier, which destroyed a building with three-bedroom flats in Kangile Village, Ilorin South Local Government Area. The recent spate of fire incidents in the region has raised concerns about safety measures and the need for vigilance among residents.