A fire outbreak triggered by a child playing with a lighter damaged part of a residential building in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Thursday.
The incident occurred at about 5:08 p.m. at a three-bedroom apartment located on Aduagbemi Street, behind Uniform Company, off Asa Dam Road in the metropolis.
The Kwara State Fire Service said the blaze affected one room in the apartment before firefighters arrived and contained the situation.
The spokesperson for the agency, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed that preliminary findings indicated that the fire started when a child ignited pieces of paper with a lighter.
According to him, the burning papers later came into contact with combustible materials within the room, resulting in a fire outbreak that quickly spread.
He explained that the flames had intensified before neighbours noticed the incident and alerted emergency responders.
“Upon arrival at the scene, firefighters acted promptly and successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other sections of the building and nearby properties,” Adekunle said.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, urged parents and guardians to ensure that matches, lighters and other flammable items are kept away from children.
He stressed the importance of close supervision and proper education of children on the dangers associated with handling fire-related materials.
The fire chief also advised residents to equip their homes with basic fire safety devices and promptly report any fire outbreak to emergency agencies.
According to him, timely intervention remains crucial in minimising property damage and preventing possible loss of lives during fire emergencies.