Juliet Oladele Reporting
IBADAN — Two prefabricated shops were destroyed in the early hours of Friday after an electric spark from a power pole ignited nearby combustible materials in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
However, a swift response by the Oyo State Fire Services Agency prevented the inferno from spreading to 18 adjoining shops in the 20-shop row, while no casualty was recorded.
The agency disclosed that it received a distress call at exactly 1:54 a.m. through its emergency line and one Shonde.
A team of firefighters led by an Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent (ACFS) was immediately deployed to the scene.
On arrival, the firefighters met two shops engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing from the affected structures.
The fire crew promptly commenced firefighting operations and succeeded in extinguishing the blaze within a short time, preventing it from spreading to the remaining 18 shops and other nearby properties.
According to the agency, preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by electric sparks from a nearby electricity pole, which ignited combustible materials around the affected shops.
It added that no life was lost and no injuries were recorded during the incident.
Following the operation, the officer in charge of the firefighting team conducted a brief fire safety sensitisation for residents and traders, urging members of the public to notify the Fire Service immediately whenever a fire emergency occurs to facilitate prompt intervention.
The firefighting crew later returned safely to the station at about 3:16 a.m. and resumed standby duties.
Residents Urged to Remain Vigilant
Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Hon. Moroof Adebayo Akinwande, urged residents to remain vigilant and adopt preventive fire safety measures.
He urged shop owners and business operators to install functional fire extinguishers in their premises so they could contain fires at the early stage before they escalate into major disasters.
Akinwande also appealed to members of the public to provide accurate addresses when reporting fire outbreaks to enable firefighters to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies.
The agency reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state, encouraging residents to keep the emergency lines handy at all times.
