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Five-Year-Old Accidentally Sets House Ablaze

Five-Year-Old Accidentally Sets House Ablaze
  • PublishedFebruary 4, 2025

A five-year-old boy accidentally set fire to a duplex in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday while playing with matchsticks.

The incident occurred at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road, in the Irewolede area of Ilorin West Local Government. One of the rooms in the building was completely destroyed before firefighters arrived to contain the flames.

An eyewitness, Lanre Abdulrazaq, who was working nearby, said, “We just noticed that thick smoke was oozing out of the building; we raised the alarm to sensitise people around for a rescue operation.

“We did not know the cause of the fire but later we saw the fire service who arrived and contained the fire.”

The spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed that the fire started after the child accidentally dropped a lit matchstick on a combustible material.

Adekunle, who serves as a principal fire officer and head of Media and Publicity, stated, “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.

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“On Monday, 3rd February 2025, at about 17:32 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service received a distress call regarding a fire outbreak at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, Off Yidi Road, Irewolede Area, Ilorin.

“Our gallant firefighters sprang into action, arriving swiftly at the scene to find one room in a five-bedroom duplex engulfed in flames.

“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.

“The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, commended the firefighters for their swift and tactical response.

“He urged the public to prioritise fire safety and advised parents to keep matches away from children, emphasising that a single matchstick could destroy an entire building.”

Adekunle reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to safeguarding lives and property through rapid emergency response and professional service.