Fire destroys laundry shop, spares eight-room building in Ilorin

Residents of an eight-room residential building narrowly escaped injury after a fire destroyed a laundry shop attached to the property at Assu Luxury Quarters, off University Road in the Tanke area of Ilorin, Kwara State, in the early hours of Tuesday.
The fire, which broke out at about 3:58 a.m., was contained by firefighters before it spread to the residential apartments and nearby buildings.
The Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed the incident in a statement on Tuesday.
He said the affected property consisted of eight residential rooms and a laundry shop, with only the laundry section damaged by the blaze.
According to him, firefighters responded promptly and brought the fire under control by 4:25 a.m., preventing further destruction. The operation was completed at about 4:42 a.m.
Preliminary findings by the fire service indicate that the incident may have been triggered by an electrical power surge, possibly caused by a pressing iron left switched on for an extended period.
“Initial investigation revealed that the fire was suspected to have been caused by a power surge, possibly from one of the pressing irons that had been left powered for a long period. However, further investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement said.
Reacting to the incident, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, urged business owners, especially laundry operators, to observe proper electrical safety measures.
He advised operators to switch off electrical appliances immediately after use and avoid leaving them unattended while connected to power.
Muhammed also recommended regular electrical inspections, the use of standard electrical appliances, and the installation of surge protection devices to reduce the risk of fire outbreaks.
The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property through prompt emergency response and sustained public awareness on fire safety.