Fire outbreak caused by 9-year-old playing with matches destroys property Ilorin

A three-bedroom flat on Thursday gutted by fire at No. 52 Mandate Housing Estate, Ilorin, the state capital.

According to Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, the Head of Media and Publicity, Kwara State Fire Service, in a statement on Friday said its operatives responded to the fire incident caused by a 9-year-old child playing with matches, which ignited a mattress and escalated the blaze.

According to him, “a young boy was playing with firecrackers when he heard the sound of his father’s car pulling into the driveway. Panicked and afraid of being scolded, he quickly lit a firecracker and tossed it under the bed, thinking it would remain hidden. Moments later, his father walked in, oblivious to what had just happened.”

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“Excited to celebrate, the father decided to take the family out for some shopping. They locked the house and left, completely unaware of the smouldering danger spreading beneath the bed. By the time they returned, the fire had consumed the entire house, leaving nothing but ashes and heartbreak behind,” the statement added.

The statement, however, urged the public to prioritize safety at all times, especially as children spend their holiday at home with limited supervision while many parents are at work. Parents and guardians are advised to:

– Keep matches, lighters, and other flammable materials out of children’s reach.
• Educate children on the dangers of playing with fire.

As the festive season approaches, we must emphasize the dangers of firecrackers, commonly known as “bangers.” A tragic incident from a few years ago serves as a sobering reminder.