A lorry overloaded with mattresses caused a fire outbreak on Tuesday, destroying 16 rooms and seven shops at Ile Bilewu, Alabi-Owo Junction, Ita-Amodu area, Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
The incident occurred around 10:16 am when the lorry collided with a high-tension wire, causing a spark that ignited the mattresses. The fire quickly spread to a nearby building housing 47 rooms and 19 shops.
Fire Service Response
The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the incident and promptly responded to the distress call. Hassan Adekunle, the agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, explained the sequence of events and the extent of the damage.
“Once the mattresses caught fire, the blaze spread rapidly from the lorry to the nearby building due to the highly flammable nature of the mattresses,” he said.
“The situation was further exacerbated by the explosion of a nearby step-down transformer, which intensified the fire and contributed to its rapid spread to adjacent shops and rooms.”
Damage and Containment
Despite the intensity of the blaze, the firefighters successfully saved 12 shops and 31 rooms. Unfortunately, seven shops and 16 rooms were lost to the fire.
The Fire Service credited their success to the timely collaboration with the Federal Fire Service. “Their support was invaluable in extinguishing the fire and ensuring the safety of those involved,” Adekunle added.
Security Challenges
Adekunle also praised police operatives for providing security during the operation, noting that hoodlums had attempted to disrupt the firefighting efforts.
“This incident highlights the critical importance of adhering to safety standards, especially in transporting flammable materials, to prevent similar tragedies in the future,” he concluded.