A late-night fire destroyed three containerised shops at Eyenkorin Roundabout in the Apata area of Asa Local Government Area, Kwara State, leaving shop owners counting their losses.
Report stated that the incident occurred around 11:57 p.m. on Wednesday, when the Kwara State Fire Service received a distress call and quickly deployed firefighters to the scene to limit further damage.
According to a statement released on Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, PFO Hassan Adekunle, the fire affected six containerised shops around the busy Eyenkorin Roundabout.
“The incident involved six containerised shops, out of which three were affected by the fire,” Hassan said.
Preliminary investigations by the fire service revealed that the blaze was triggered by a power surge shortly after electricity supply was restored to the area.
“The cause of the fire was traced to a power surge which occurred immediately after electricity supply was restored, leading to the ignition of nearby combustible materials,” the PRO added.
Firefighters reportedly responded promptly and worked through the night to contain the fire, preventing it from spreading to other shops and nearby properties.
“Our personnel swiftly mobilised to the scene and worked tirelessly to combat the inferno, successfully bringing the fire under control at about 12:20 a.m., thereby preventing it from spreading to the remaining shops and nearby properties,” the fire service stated.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, CFS Alabi Muhammed, advised shop owners and residents to prioritise electrical safety in their homes and business premises.
“Shop owners should ensure proper electrical wiring and the use of quality electrical materials in their shops and business premises,” Muhammed said.
He also urged occupants to switch off electrical appliances when not in use and install portable fire extinguishers for early firefighting in case of minor outbreaks.
This latest incident adds to a series of fire outbreaks recorded in Kwara in recent months. On February 27, a 52-year-old man died in a late-night fire that razed a short-let apartment building along Coca-Cola Road in Ilorin, the state capital.
Emergency responders have repeatedly cautioned residents and business operators to adopt preventive safety measures, noting that many recent incidents have been linked to electrical faults and power surges.
