A 9-year-old child recently caused a fire at his father’s three-bedroom flat in Ilorin, Kwara State, while playing with matches. The incident occurred on Thursday at Mandate Housing Estate. The fire began when the child’s match lit a mattress, and the flames quickly spread throughout the house.

Hassan Adekunle, a spokesman for the Kwara State Fire Service, explained that the fire was caused by the child’s careless play. He urged the public to be extra cautious, especially during school holidays when children are at home with limited supervision while their parents are at work.

Adekunle advised parents and guardians to keep matches, lighters, and other flammable items out of children’s reach. He also stressed the importance of educating children about the dangers of playing with fire. With the festive season approaching, he warned about the risks of firecrackers, which can be just as dangerous.

He also shared a tragic story from the past about a young boy who played with firecrackers and, in an attempt to hide it, threw one under his bed. The firecracker caused a blaze that destroyed the entire house while the family was out. This highlights the need for constant vigilance when it comes to fire safety.

To avoid such accidents, it’s important for parents to talk to their children about fire dangers and keep hazardous items safely out of reach. As we enter the holiday season, let’s all make safety a priority to prevent such heartbreaking incidents.