A duplex building was set ablaze on Monday after a five-year-old boy was playing with matchsticks at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road, in the Irewole area of Ilorin, located in the Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The fire was quickly brought under control by the Kwara State Fire Service, though one of the rooms sustained damage before the situation was handled.
Hassan Adekunle, the spokesperson for the state fire service, confirmed the incident. He explained that the boy had accidentally dropped the matchsticks onto a flammable material, which triggered the fire.
Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters found one of the rooms in the five-bedroom duplex fully engulfed in flames. “With their expertise and precision, the team worked tirelessly to control the fire, preventing it from spreading to other rooms or neighboring structures. Thanks to their skill and coordination, only one room was affected,” Adekunle stated.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, praised the firefighters for their rapid and effective response. He also emphasized the importance of fire safety and urged parents to keep matches out of reach of children, reminding the public that a single matchstick can lead to catastrophic damage.
