A fire broke out in a duplex in Ilorin, Kwara State, after a five-year-old boy accidentally ignited a flammable item while playing with matches.
The incident occurred on Monday in the Irewolede area of Ilorin West Local Government.
The child, unaware of the danger, dropped a lit match, sparking a fire that completely destroyed one room in the five-bedroom duplex.
By the time the Kwara State Fire Service arrived, the fire had already caused significant damage.
However, their swift response prevented it from spreading further, saving the rest of the building.
A witness, Lanre Abdulrazaq, who was working nearby, said,
“We suddenly noticed thick smoke coming from the building and raised the alarm to alert people for a rescue operation. Initially, we didn’t know the cause of the fire, but later, the fire service arrived and managed to contain it.”
Hassan Adekunle, the head of Media and Publicity for the Kwara State Fire Service, confirmed the cause of the fire in a statement issued Monday night.
He explained that preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was started by the child, who inadvertently dropped a lit matchstick on combustible material.
“On Monday, February 3, 2025, at about 17:32 hours, we received a distress call regarding a fire outbreak at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, Off Yidi Road, Irewolede Area, Ilorin,” Adekunle stated.
“Our firefighters swiftly responded and arrived at the scene to find one room engulfed in flames. Through technical expertise and coordinated efforts, they successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other rooms or nearby buildings. Thanks to their quick intervention, only one room was affected.”
He urged the public to prioritize fire safety and advised parents to keep matches and other hazardous items away from children.
He emphasized that a single matchstick could destroy an entire building if not handled properly.
The Kwara State Fire Service reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property through rapid emergency response.
