Fire guts building in Ibadan

Oyo State Fire Services Agency on Saturday responded to a fire incident at Winners Road, Ashi area of Ibadan, successfully containing the blaze and preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings.

The distress call was received at about 1:30 a.m. through a telephone report from a resident, Mr. Ogunrinde, informing the agency of a house on fire at the location.

Firefighters, led by Chief Fire Superintendent (CFS) Adekola, were immediately deployed from the agency’s headquarters to the scene. On arrival, the responders discovered that an old residential building had already been engulfed in flames.

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The fire service personnel swiftly moved into action and were able to contain the fire, restricting it from spreading to other buildings and properties in the neighbourhood.

Although the building was affected by the inferno, no casualty was recorded, while surrounding structures and valuables were successfully saved by the firefighters.

Preliminary findings indicated that the fire was caused by unattended cooking gas which ignited combustible materials and set the building ablaze.

Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Fire Services Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Hon. Dr. Moroof Adebayo Akinwande, urged residents of the state to avoid indiscriminate bush and refuse burning, especially during the current dry season, to prevent fire outbreaks.

He also stressed the need for households and communities to install fire extinguishers and learn their proper use in order to control fires at the early stage before they escalate.

The fire service crew returned safely to the station at about 3:41 a.m. and remained on operational standby.

Residents were also advised to promptly report fire incidents and provide accurate addresses through the agency’s emergency lines: 08067439223, 08054353501, or 615 (toll free).