Newborn, parents escape death as fire ravages buildings in Kwara

A burnt vehicle from the fire incident on Lawyer Lambo Street in Oloje Phase 2, Ilorin, Credit: Kwara State Fire Service.

A newborn baby and parents narrowly escaped death after a fire ravaged their apartment and damaged several buildings and businesses in Oloje Phase 2, Ilorin, Kwara State, in the early hours of Tuesday.

The PUNCH gathered that the family was rescued by community members after the fire severely affected their room-and-parlour self-contained apartment.

The incident also left one vehicle completely burnt, destroyed a vulcanising workshop and two other residential buildings, and an adjoining travel and tours office.

Confirming the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, the Kwara State Fire Service said the agency received a distress call and responded to the emergency at 2:41 am on Lawyer Lambo Street, Ilorin West Local Government Area.

The statement read, “The incident involved two buildings comprising four-bedroom flats each and a third building consisting of a room-and-parlour self-contained apartment.

“The room-and-parlour self-contained apartment was severely affected by the fire. Fortunately, the occupants, who had recently welcomed a newborn baby, were rescued by members of the community.”

In one of the flats, three vehicles were present when the fire broke out, with one destroyed and two saved by firefighters.

“One of the vehicles was completely burnt, while our gallant firefighters successfully saved the remaining two vehicles from the fire.

“The second four-bedroom flat also sustained damage, particularly in its kitchen, where electrical appliances, including a freezer, were affected. The building’s solar power generation system was also damaged,” the agency stated.

The fire service added that an adjoining travel and tours office was affected, with its solar power system, four tubular batteries and other electrical appliances damaged.

A vulcanising workshop in the vicinity was also destroyed after a high-tension transmission line fell on the structure.

Explaining the circumstances surrounding the outbreak, the agency said, “Preliminary findings indicate that the incident resulted from the collapse of a concrete pole supporting a 33kV electricity transmission line.

• Kwara ADC, ex-spokesman trade words over resignation
• Fire guts residential building in Anambra
• Fire destroys building in Kwara community

“The fallen line also landed on the vehicle that was burnt, and a spark reportedly ignited its tyre before the fire escalated within a short period.”

The fire service said the fallen transmission line posed an additional danger to firefighters responding to the emergency, prompting it to contact the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company control room.

“Given the electrical hazard posed by the fallen transmission line, the Kwara State Fire Service contacted the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) control room and requested the shutdown of the feeder supplying electricity to the affected area.

“This measure was necessary to create a safer environment for our firefighters to operate and manage the emergency effectively,” the statement added.

Commenting on the incident, the Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, expressed sympathy with the affected residents, property owners and business operators over the losses recorded in the incident.

He urged residents to avoid erecting structures beneath high-tension electricity transmission lines, warning of the dangers such practices could pose to lives and property.

The fire service chief also advised property developers and residents to observe the required safety setbacks around electricity infrastructure in accordance with relevant regulations.

“The Chief Fire Officer emphasised that keeping a safe distance from transmission lines is essential to reducing the risk of electrical accidents, fire outbreaks and damage to lives and property.

“He also called on residents to report fallen poles, damaged electrical infrastructure and exposed transmission lines immediately to the relevant authorities, while avoiding contact with fallen wires or any objects in contact with them.

“The Kwara State Fire Service commends the community members who assisted in rescuing the occupants of the affected self-contained apartment and reiterates the importance of cooperation between residents and emergency responders during emergencies,” the statement added.

The incident occurred less than 24 hours after a fire destroyed a building comprising three-bedroom flats in Kangile Village, Ilorin South Local Government Area of the state, on Monday.