A truck overloaded with mattresses on Tuesday caused a fire outbreak that burnt down 16 rooms and seven shops at Ile Bilewu, Alabi-Owo junction, Ita-Amodu area, Ilorin, the state capital.
The Tribune investigation gathered that the truck carrying the mattresses had collided with a high-tension wire, thereby causing a spark that ignited the mattresses.
The incident, which happened at about 10:16 am, was confirmed by the state fire service.
“Once the mattresses caught fire, the blaze spread rapidly from the truck to the nearby building, which housed 47 rooms and 19 shops.
“The highly flammable nature of the mattresses contributed to the swift spread of the fire. The fire spread from the truck to a nearby building containing 47 rooms and 19 shops,” said the head of media and publicity for the Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle.
The spokesperson of the state fire service added that the explosion of a nearby step-down transformer actually intensified the fire situation, “further aiding the rapid spread of the fire to the adjacent shops and rooms.”
“On Tuesday, December 2, 2024, at 10:16 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service swiftly responded to a distress call reporting a fire outbreak at Ile Bilewu, Alabi-Owo Junction, Ita-Amodu area, Ilorin.
“The fire crew promptly mobilised and departed the station to address the emergency.
“Upon arrival, we encountered a massive inferno originating from a truck overloaded with mattresses.
“The fire spread from the truck to a nearby building containing 47 rooms and 19 shops. Undeterred by the intensity of the blaze, our courageous firefighters acted swiftly to contain the fire and prevent further destruction.
“Our efforts successfully saved 12 shops and 31 rooms, while 7 shops and 16 rooms were unfortunately affected.
“Investigations revealed that the fire originated from a truck overloaded with mattresses. The truck had collided with a high-tension wire, causing a spark that ignited the mattresses.
*Once the mattresses caught fire, the blaze spread rapidly from the truck to the nearby building, which housed 47 rooms and 19 shops.
“The highly flammable nature of the mattresses contributed to the swift spread of the fire.
“Additionally, the explosion of a nearby step-down transformer intensified the situation, further aiding the rapid spread of the fire to the adjacent shops and rooms.
“It is important to acknowledge the valuable assistance provided by the Federal Fire Service, who collaborated with us in extinguishing the fire and ensuring the safety of all involved. Their timely support played a crucial role in containing the blaze.
“We also express our gratitude to the Nigeria Police Force, who helped protect our firefighters from the threat posed by hoodlums attempting to disrupt the operation.
“Their intervention ensured the safety and security of our personnel during a highly volatile situation.
*Additionally, we would like to thank the media houses for their timely notifications and real-time updates, which helped keep the public informed about the progress of the incident and the measures being taken to address it.
“Their role in disseminating accurate information was invaluable in managing the situation and preventing further panic.
Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, emphasised the critical importance of prioritising safety to prevent such incidents in the future.”
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