A late-night inferno gutted parts of a residential building in Ilorin after a high-tension electricity cable snapped and fell on a water tank, sparking a fire outbreak behind the Kwara State House of Assembly complex.
The incident, which occurred at about 9:12 p.m. on Friday at Alfa Olorunkemi Compound, reportedly affected a building housing three units of three-bedroom flats.
According to the Kwara State Fire Service, the blaze was triggered when a 33kVA transmission line came in contact with a plastic overhead water tank, leading to an explosion that quickly escalated into a raging fire.
Firefighters were immediately deployed to the scene following a distress call. However, the firefighting operation was delayed due to continued power supply from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), which posed a significant risk to both lives and equipment.
“The power supply made it initially unsafe for our men to begin work. We had to immediately contact IBEDC’s control room to shut down the feeder before proceeding,” said Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, Head of Media and Publicity at the Kwara State Fire Service.
Once power was cut off, the firemen were able to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further within the compound.
Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, lauded the swift response of his team and reiterated the importance of public education on electrical safety.
He also condemned the widespread practice of building structures close to or beneath transmission lines, warning that such negligence continues to endanger lives and property.
“We need stricter enforcement of building regulations and greater vigilance by the public. Situations like this are preventable,” he stated.
Meanwhile, residents of the affected area have called on the state government and relevant agencies to intensify efforts in monitoring and maintaining aging power infrastructure to forestall similar incidents.
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