Newborn, parents rescued from fire outbreak in Kwara
ILORIN, Nigeria — Residents of Lawyer Lambo Street in Oloje Phase 2, Ilorin, Kwara State, successfully rescued a newborn and the child’s parents from a fire that destroyed three buildings early Wednesday morning.
The blaze, which broke out shortly after 2 a.m., affected multiple residential properties in the area. Hakeem Adekunle, a spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, reported that firefighters received a distress call and arrived on the scene at 2:41 a.m.
Adekunle stated that the fire impacted two buildings housing four-bedroom apartments each, as well as a third building featuring a self-contained room-and-parlour apartment. The self-contained unit suffered significant damage, but the community’s swift response allowed for the safe evacuation of its occupants, who had recently welcomed a newborn.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was triggered by the collapse of a concrete pole supporting a 33kV electricity transmission line. Adekunle explained that the collapse caused sparks that affected nearby properties and electrical appliances, igniting the fire.
In response to the emergency, the Fire Service notified the control room of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to request the shutdown of the electricity feeder supplying the area. This precautionary measure was taken to provide a safer environment for firefighters and to manage the situation effectively.
Chief Fire Officer Alabi Muhammed expressed sympathy for the affected residents and cautioned the public against constructing buildings and other structures directly beneath high-tension electricity transmission lines.
