Solar wiring blamed for room fire in Ilorin building

A room in a building on No. 38 Oluwalogbon Street, in the Ijooro area of Asa-Dam, Ilorin, Kwara State, was damaged by fire on Tuesday after a spark from solar wiring reportedly ignited combustible materials. The Kwara State Fire Service said it received a distress call about the incident and reached the scene at 4:14pm.

Firefighters immediately began operations to stop the flames from spreading to other parts of the building. The agency’s Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday. He said the building comprised approximately three-bedroom flats and that the fire affected one of the rooms.

“Our firefighters swiftly commenced firefighting operations and successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building,” the statement said. The service said a preliminary investigation indicated that a spark from the solar wiring had ignited combustible materials in the affected room. The supplied material did not give details of injuries or the value of property damaged.

The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters for responding quickly. He urged property owners to pay closer attention to the safety of solar and electrical installations in their homes. “Property owners should engage qualified professionals for electrical and solar installations and ensure that damaged or faulty wiring is promptly attended to in order to prevent fire outbreaks,” Muhammed said.

The Fire Service also called for regular maintenance of solar and electrical systems, saying the incident demonstrated the dangers associated with improperly installed or poorly maintained wiring. It reaffirmed its commitment to responding to emergencies and protecting lives and property across Kwara State.