A fire outbreak triggered by a child playing with a lighter on Thursday gutted a section of a residential building in Ilorin, Kwara State, affecting one room.

The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Ilorin by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, noting that the prompt intervention of firefighters averted what could have become a more devastating inferno.

Hassan stated, "On Thursday, 11 June 2026, at 17:08 hrs, the Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire outbreak at No. 38, Aduagbemi Street, behind the Uniform Company, off Asa-Dam Road, Ilorin, Kwara State."

According to him, the affected property was a three-bedroom flat, with only one room impacted by the fire before emergency responders brought the situation under control.

The spokesperson disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed the fire started when a child playing with a lighter ignited pieces of paper.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a child playing with a lighter and using it to ignite pieces of paper.

"The burning paper subsequently came into contact with nearby combustible materials, resulting in a fire outbreak," Hassan stated.

He further explained that the fire escalated before neighbours noticed and raised the alarm, but the swift response of firefighters prevented it from spreading to adjoining apartments and nearby structures.

"The fire had already escalated before neighbours noticed the incident and raised the alarm.

"Upon arrival, firefighters swiftly brought the situation under control and prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the building and adjoining properties," Hassan added.

Reacting to the incident, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, cautioned parents and guardians to be more vigilant and ensure that children are kept away from fire sources such as matches and lighters.

"Parents and guardians are advised to keep matches, lighters, and other ignition sources out of the reach of children.

"Children should be adequately supervised at all times and educated on the dangers associated with playing with fire," Alabi warned.

He also urged residents across the state to prioritise fire safety measures in their homes and ensure the immediate reporting of fire outbreaks to enable a quick response and minimise damage.

The Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property through rapid emergency response and sustained public enlightenment on fire safety practices.

The latest incident adds to a series of recent fire outbreaks recorded in Ilorin, including a Sunday morning fire that destroyed parts of a residential building, affecting a room and a store before it was brought under control.