A dawn fire on Tuesday razed parts of the 23-room Ebunloma Hotel and Resort in the Osin area of Ita-Elepa, off Asa Dam Road in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The inferno, which started around 5:07am, affected the bar section and store area of the facility before firefighters arrived at the scene.
Spokesman for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said the prompt response of firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to the 23 guest rooms in the building.
“Upon arrival, firefighters immediately launched a coordinated attack on the blaze.
Through their swift and professional efforts, the crew succeeded in preventing the fire from consuming the 23 guest rooms, thereby safeguarding significant property and averting what could have resulted in major structural loss,” he said.
Adekunle added that a preliminary investigation showed that the fire was triggered by a power surge that ignited the affected sections of the hotel.
The Director of the State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, urged hotel owners and residents to install surge protectors, maintain functional circuit breakers and conduct routine electrical checks to reduce the risk of power-related fire outbreaks.
He stressed the importance of early detection and strict adherence to electrical safety practices in preventing destructive fires.