A fire outbreak has destroyed 12 shops at a shopping complex in the Mandate Market area of Ilorin, Kwara State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at a shopping complex opposite Alkad Filling Station. The complex, which contains about 40 shops, was already engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said the service received a distress call at about 1:14am and immediately deployed two fire appliances to tackle the inferno.
Personnel of the Federal Fire Service later joined the operation as firefighters battled to prevent the flames from spreading to other parts of the complex and surrounding properties.
Adekunle said 12 shops were affected by the fire, attributing the extent of the damage partly to the late notification of the incident.
Despite the destruction recorded, the combined efforts of the Kwara and Federal fire services prevented the fire from spreading to the remaining portions of the shopping complex and nearby properties.
Preliminary findings suggested that the fire might have been caused by a power surge. According to the Fire Service, some people sleeping close to the complex reportedly heard a loud combustion sound shortly after electricity was restored.
However, the authorities stressed that the exact cause of the fire had not been conclusively established and would be determined after further investigation.
The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters for their prompt response and collaboration with the Federal Fire Service.
He also urged business owners to ensure that their electrical installations are handled by qualified professionals and that electrical appliances and power sources are regularly monitored.
Muhammed further emphasised the importance of promptly reporting fire outbreaks, noting that early notification gives firefighters a better chance of containing fires before they escalate and cause extensive damage.
The latest incident comes just two days after another fire outbreak affected a residential building in the Asa-Dam area of Ilorin. That incident damaged three bedrooms but was eventually contained before it spread to an adjoining block of apartments.
The Kwara State Fire Service has therefore urged residents and business owners to regularly inspect their electrical installations and immediately alert emergency responders whenever they notice signs of a fire outbreak.
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