Three major fire incidents occurred in Kwara state in the recent past despite enlightenment campaigns by fire fighting agencies. UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB reports.
Three separates incidents of fire outbreaks, amongst many others recorded in different part of Kwara state in the month of April, have left many in pains as they continue to count their losses.
Out of the three incidents, two were recorded in Ilorin, the state capital while one was recorded in Offa town, the second largest commercial city after the state capital. In the three incidents, the causes of two were similar.
Investigation by Blueprint showed that two of the fire incidents emanated from fire set up for domestic cooking while the third one was ignited from a little smoke from a dropped used cigarette stick.
The state fire service had in recent times organised series of enlightenment programmes on fire saftey measures and how to combat any fire incidents should it occur in market places, corporate organisations and public places; ironically however, cases of fire outbreaks ignited by domestic activities especially fire set up for domestic cooking activities and burning of refuses continued to cause colossal damage to property.
In fact, the penultimate weekend in the just concluded month of April was a busy one for men of the Kwara State Fire Service following cases of fire incidents recorded in different part of the state capital including the widely reported one that almost claimed the life of an 86-year-old man.
Fire caused by an octogenarian.
One of the unfortunate incidents was the case of an 86-year-old man who suffered head injury from a fire incident that engulfed his building around Asa Dam Road, Ilorin in Ilorin West local government area of the state.
The octogenarian was said to have sustained the injury on the head with his hair burnt when he rushed into his burning apartment on Afolayan street in an affort to salvage his belongings.
It was learnt that the fire started when the old man left what he was cooking to see a visitor off.
The man was also said to have stopped by a shop to buy some items, unknown to him that his apartment was already on fire.
The Kwara State Fire Service which confirmed the incident in a statement by the head of media and publicity, Hassan Adekunle said that the fire brigade swiftly responded to the scene to save the situation .
“Investigations revealed that an 86-year-old occupant had been cooking and momentarily stepped out to attend to someone. Upon returning, he discovered his apartment was on fire.
“In a state of distress, he re-entered the burning apartment, possibly to retrieve some of his belongings and in the process, suffered injuries, including burns to the hair on his head,” Adekunle said.
He said the injured man was promptly taken to the nearest hospital to receive treatment for his injuries.
Charcoal-ignited fire
In a related development, charcoal ignited fire had on Friday April 26 consumed nine out of 40 rooms at No. E143, Ile Muse, off Emir’s Road, Ilorin.
The inferno which broke out in the wee hours of that fateful day, Blueprint gathered was caused by unquiched fire from charcoal after cooking dinner.
Again, confirming the incident in a statement by the head of media and publicity of the state fire service, Adekunle said, “A careless mistake had sparked the disaster. A resident had failed to properly extinguish a charcoal fire used for cooking dinner the previous night, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
“The director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, was visibly moved by the incident. This avoidable tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety and awareness,” he emphasized. “Let us all learn from this and remain vigilant in our daily lives.”
Fire from cigarette stick
Also in the early hours of Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024 a fire outbreak was recorded at the popular Owode market in the commercial town of Offa where several shops and property worth millions of naira were destroyed.
Report had it that the fire was sparked by a used cigarette stick which ignited the fire that later spread to some shops. In the aftermath, 50 shops and goods were consumed.
Confirming the incident, Adekunle said it took the combined efforts of men from the state and federal fire service to save the remaining shops from the ranging effects of the fire. According to him, “In a commendable display of promptness and efficiency, the Kwara State Fire Service swiftly responded to a devastating fire outbreak at Owode Market in Offa local government area on April 2, 2024.
“Arriving at the scene, numerous shops were ablaze with federal firefighting counterparts already engaged in combatting the inferno. Undeterred, the Kwara State Fire Service personnel joined forces with their federal counterparts, deploying two fire appliances from different stations to effectively tackle the raging blaze.
“The collaborative efforts of the firefighting teams proved instrumental in bringing the situation under control. Despite the daunting challenge, it took a concerted five-hour-long battle to fully extinguish the flames, ensuring the safety of lives and properties within the vicinity.
“The value of commodities and property salvaged by the fire fighting efforts is estimated to exceed 12 billion naira, providing a significant relief amidst the crisis. However, the unfortunate incident resulted in property losses amounting to 360 million naira.
“Following a thorough investigation, it was determined that the fire was sparked by a dropped cigarette end igniting combustible materials, underscoring the critical importance of fire safety awareness and preventive measures,” he said.
