Fire guts 12 shops in Kwara shopping complex

No fewer than 12 shops were affected by a fire that razed parts of a shopping complex in the Mandate Market area of Ilorin, Kwara State, on Saturday. The fire, which occurred opposite Alkad Filling Station, was reported at about 1:14 am, with the complex, comprising about 40 shops, already engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. The spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed this in a statement. Adekunle said the service deployed two fire appliances after receiving the distress call, while personnel of the Federal Fire Service later joined the operation to prevent the blaze from spreading to other shops and nearby properties. “Despite the prompt intervention of the firefighters, 12 shops were affected, largely due to the late notification of the incident,” Adekunle stated. He added that preliminary findings suggested that the fire might have been caused by a power surge. According to Adekunle, some people sleeping near the shopping complex reported hearing a loud combustion sound shortly after electricity was restored. “The exact cause of the incident remains subject to further investigation,” Adekunle added. The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters and the Federal Fire Service for their response and collaboration. He urged business owners to ensure that electrical installations were handled by qualified professionals and that electrical appliances and power sources were properly monitored. Muhammed also stressed the importance of promptly reporting fire outbreaks. “Early notification gives firefighters a better opportunity to contain incidents before they escalate and cause extensive damage,” Muhammed said.