A room in a building at No. 38 Oluwalogbon Street, Ijooro area of Asa-Dam, Ilorin, Kwara State, was gutted by fire on Tuesday after a spark from solar wiring reportedly ignited combustible materials.
The Kwara State Fire Service said it received a distress call about the incident and arrived at the scene at 4:14pm, where firefighters immediately commenced operations to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the building.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Public Relations Officer of the agency, Hassan Adekunle, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH in Ilorin.
The statement read, “The building comprises approximately three-bedroom flats, and the fire affected one of the rooms.
“Our firefighters swiftly commenced firefighting operations and successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building.”
The service said a preliminary investigation indicated that the fire was caused by a spark from the solar wiring, which ignited combustible materials in the affected room.
The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters for their swift response and urged residents to pay closer attention to the safety of solar and electrical installations in their homes.
“Property owners should engage qualified professionals for electrical and solar installations and ensure that damaged or faulty wiring is promptly attended to in order to prevent fire outbreaks,” Muhammed advised.
The Fire Service also stressed the need for regular maintenance of solar and electrical installations, noting that the incident highlighted the dangers associated with improperly installed or poorly maintained wiring.
The service reaffirmed its commitment to responding swiftly to emergencies and protecting lives and property across Kwara State.
