A fire outbreak on Tuesday afternoon razed a residential building comprising 10 rooms at Aata Compound, Ose Olorun Street, off Asa-Dam Road in Ilorin, leaving occupants counting their losses.

The incident, which occurred at about 1:09 p.m., drew the attention of the Kwara State Fire Service after distress calls were eventually made.

According to a statement issued by the Service's Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, the fire had already engulfed the entire building before firefighters arrived at the scene.

"The incident involved a building comprising about 10 rooms, all of which were affected by the fire before the arrival of firefighters," Adekunle said.

He added that delayed notification significantly worsened the situation, as residents initially attempted to put out the blaze themselves.

"The delay in alerting the Fire Service contributed to the extent of damage, as occupants and sympathisers attempted to extinguish the fire on their own for over an hour," he added.

Adekunle further explained that despite the severity of the incident, firefighters were able to prevent a wider disaster upon arrival.

"Upon arrival, the gallant firefighters acted swiftly and successfully contained the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings and averting further destruction within the densely populated area," he said.

On the cause of the incident, the spokesperson disclosed that preliminary findings pointed to an electrical fault linked to an unstable power supply.

"Preliminary findings revealed that the fire was caused by a power surge following repeated restoration and interruption of the electricity supply," he said.

"This led to ignition in one of the rooms that had been locked for a long period," Adekunle added. The Director of the Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, cautioned residents against delaying emergency calls during fire outbreaks.

"Members of the public are advised to always alert the Fire Service immediately at the early stage of any fire outbreak, rather than attempting prolonged self-intervention that may worsen the situation," he warned.

He also stressed preventive safety measures to curb future incidents.

"There is a need to install surge protectors, ensure proper electrical maintenance, and switch off electrical appliances, especially in unoccupied or locked rooms," Muhammed said.

"Early response and preventive measures are critical in minimising fire damage and saving lives," he added.

The latest incident adds to a series of recent fire outbreaks recorded across Kwara State. Earlier in March, three containerised shops were destroyed by fire at Eyenkorin Roundabout, whilst another blaze gutted six shops and goods worth millions of naira at Owode Market in Offa on 12th March.

The Fire Service reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging residents to remain vigilant and prioritise safety at all times.