A fire broke out on Thursday night in the Asa-Dam area of Ilorin, Kwara State, after a high-voltage power line collapsed onto a building.
The incident happened around 9:12pm at Alfa Olorunkemi Compound, which is located behind the Kwara State House of Assembly.
The fire started when a 33kVA electricity line fell and touched a plastic overhead water tank within the compound, sparking a blaze that affected a building with three separate three-bedroom flats.
Firefighters from the Kwara State Fire Service quickly responded to the emergency after receiving a distress call.
However, their initial efforts to put out the fire were hindered because electricity was still being supplied to the area, posing a serious safety risk.
The fire service promptly contacted the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to shut off the power supply.
Once the electricity was cut, the firefighters were able to contain the blaze and prevent further damage.
Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, the spokesperson for the fire service, confirmed the details of the incident.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, praised the swift action of the fire crew and used the opportunity to warn the public about the dangers of building houses close to or under high-tension power lines.
He urged residents to be more aware of electrical safety and called on the authorities to do more to maintain and monitor power infrastructure to prevent similar accidents in the future.
