An early morning fire outbreak on Saturday destroyed properties worth millions of Naira in Idanre, in Idanre local government area of Ondo State.
The inferno which affected a furniture factory including all equipment, furniture works, textile materials and cell phones.
The fire also affected the building of a Nursery and Primary school in the area, destroying all the classrooms of the nursery and primary school.
It was gathered that the inferno started around 3:50 am when the residents of the area noticed smoke coming out of the shop complex at the area.
The residents mobilised to put off the fire but the fire had extended to other buildings within the complex.
An eyewitness explained that the furniture and wood at the factory contributed to the fire outbreak, saying the residents are helpless and could do little to prevent the spread of the fire.
He said the cause of the inferno was unknown but attributed it to a possible power surge in one of the affected shops in the complex.
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One of the victims and owner of the furniture workshop, Mr Oluwatobi Atere, said that he had lost property worth more than N30m.
A community leader in Idanre, Adesoji Abiodun, who assisted in putting out the fire lamented the late arrival of men of the fire service.
Abiodun said that the level of destruction would have been minimal if the fire service officials had responded promptly to the fire outbreak.
Confirming the development, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, said, “the fire destroyed the property of one Polyfem furniture making industry, a Nursery and Primary School and other plank shops in the area.”
While noting that no life was lost in the inferno, Joseph said, “the cause of the fire outbreak has not been established but we have commenced an investigation into the incident.”
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