A fire outbreak on Friday at Ejiba Street, off Kwara Stadium Road, in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, destroyed 15 rooms in a residential building. The incident, caused by the negligent handling of a gas cooker, marks the second such fire recorded by the state fire service in Ilorin within a week.
According to a statement issued by Hassan Adekunle, a Principal Fire Officer and head of Media and Publicity for the Kwara State Fire Service, the agency responded to a distress call at about 8:05 pm on Friday, March 7, 2025. The fire occurred at Ejiba Road, near Ejiba Bridge, in Ilorin.
“The fire crew acted swiftly upon arrival and managed to save 89 out of the 104 rooms in the storey building, with only 15 rooms affected by the fire,” the statement read. Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was triggered by a gas cooker left unattended.
This incident follows another fire outbreak on Wednesday, March 5, in the Oke-Apomu area of Ilorin West Local Government, where seven rooms were destroyed. That fire, also caused by a gas cooker, affected a one-story building with 20 rooms, completely burning seven of them.
Prince Falade John, Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, expressed concern over the recurring incidents and urged the public to prioritize safety. “This is the second fire incident within a week linked to the careless handling of gas cookers,” he said. “We strongly warn against using gas cookers without strict attention and supervision.”
He reiterated the commitment of the Kwara State Fire Service to protecting lives and property through proactive fire prevention measures and prompt emergency responses. The director also called on residents to exercise caution and adhere to safety guidelines to prevent future occurrences.
These back-to-back incidents highlight the need for increased public awareness on fire safety, particularly regarding the use of gas cookers, to avoid further loss of property and potential harm to lives.
