Fire destroys five shops in Ilorin market

An early afternoon fire on Sunday destroyed five shops and damaged part of a storey building at Ita-Amodu, Niger Junction, Ilorin, Kwara State.

The Kwara State Fire Service said the incident occurred at about 1:36 pm. Its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to him, the affected building contained three-bedroom flats and 10 shops, with five shops and the parapet of the building damaged by the inferno.

Adekunle explained that mattresses and sofa-making materials stored in some of the shops contributed to the intensity and rapid spread of the fire because of their highly combustible nature.

He said the first fire appliance arrived to find the blaze fully developed and overwhelming the building, prompting the immediate deployment of a second appliance to strengthen the firefighting operation.

Firefighters battled the blaze and prevented it from spreading to neighbouring properties. The service said the fire was brought under control at about 2:05 pm.

Personnel of the Federal Fire Service also joined the operation, with the state fire service saying the collaboration helped to contain the fire and limit further damage.

The cause of the fire was still being investigated as of the time of filing the report.

The Chief Fire Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, commended personnel from both agencies for their swift response and efforts to prevent the fire from spreading beyond the affected premises.

The fire service advised traders dealing in combustible materials, particularly mattresses, upholstery and related products, to prioritise fire safety and equip their premises with appropriate firefighting equipment.