A five-year-old boy caused a significant fire incident on Monday in Ilorin, Kwara State, when he was playing with matchsticks, leading to the burning of one room in a duplex on Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road in the Irewole area of Ilorin West Local Government.
The fire was first noticed by thick smoke emanating from the building, as reported by an eyewitness, Lanre Abdulrazaq, who was working in the vicinity. “We just noticed that thick smoke was oozing out of the building; we raised the alarm to sensitise people around for a rescue operation,” Abdulrazaq recounted.
Hassan Adekunle, the spokesman for the Kwara State Fire Service, confirmed the incident, detailing how the fire started. “Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by a five-year-old boy playing with matches, who inadvertently dropped a lit stick on combustible material, igniting the flames,” Adekunle explained in a statement issued Monday night.
The Kwara State Fire Service received the distress call at approximately 17:32 hours and responded promptly. Adekunle praised the firefighters for their quick action, noting, “Through sheer expertise and technical precision, the team worked fervently to contain the fire, ensuring it did not spread to other rooms or nearby buildings. Thanks to their exceptional skill and coordination, only one room was affected.”
Prince Falade John, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, commended the team for their efficient response and used the opportunity to urge the public to be vigilant about fire safety. “He urged the public to prioritize fire safety and advised parents to keep matches away from children, emphasizing that a single matchstick could destroy an entire building,” Adekunle added.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of children playing with fire-related items and the importance of fire safety education within communities.