Truck Overloaded With Mattresses Guts Fire, Destroys 16 Rooms, 7 Shops In Ilorin

Ilorin, Kwara State- A fire outbreak on Tuesday morning destroyed 16 rooms and seven shops at Ile Bilewu, Alabi-Owo Junction, Ita-Amodu area of Ilorin, Kwara State.

It was gathered that the fire started after a truck overloaded with mattresses collided with a high-tension wire, causing a spark that ignited the flammable load.

Afrika Eyes learnt that the incident occurred around 10:16 am, was confirmed by the Kwara State Fire Service.

This is contained in a statement released by the service’s spokesperson, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed that the fire rapidly spread from the truck to a nearby building housing 47 rooms and 19 shops.

The statement read, “On Tuesday, December 2, 2024, at 10:16 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service swiftly responded to a distress call reporting a fire outbreak at Ile Bilewu, Alabi-Owo Junction, Ita-Amodu area, Ilorin.

Adekunle noted that the  fire crew promptly mobilised and departed the station to address the emergency.

“Upon arrival, we encountered a massive inferno originating from a truck overloaded with mattresses.

He explained that the fire spread from the truck to a nearby building containing 47 rooms and 19 shops. Undeterred by the intensity of the blaze, our courageous firefighters acted swiftly to contain the fire and prevent further destruction.

“Our efforts successfully saved 12 shops and 31 rooms, while 7 shops and 16 rooms were unfortunately affected.

He said, “Investigations revealed that the fire originated from a truck overloaded with mattresses. The truck had collided with a high-tension wire, causing a spark that ignited the mattresses.

“Once the mattresses caught fire, the blaze spread rapidly from the truck to the nearby building, which housed 47 rooms and 19 shops.

“The highly flammable nature of the mattresses contributed to the swift spread of the fire,” he stated.

Adekunle said thar the explosion of a nearby step-down transformer intensified the situation, further aiding the rapid spread of the fire to the adjacent shops and rooms.

“It is important to acknowledge the valuable assistance provided by the Federal Fire Service, who collaborated with us in extinguishing the fire and ensuring the safety of all involved. Their timely support played a crucial role in containing the blaze.

“We also express our gratitude to the Nigeria Police Force, who helped protect our firefighters from the threat posed by hoodlums attempting to disrupt the operation.

The statement continues, “Their intervention ensured the safety and security of our personnel during a highly volatile situation.

“Additionally, we would like to thank the media houses for their timely notifications and real-time updates, which helped keep the public informed about the progress of the incident and the measures being taken to address it.

“Their role in disseminating accurate information was invaluable in managing the situation and preventing further panic.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, emphasised the critical importance of prioritising safety to prevent such incidents in the future.