A combined team of the Federal and Kwara State fire services has contained a major fire outbreak at Ita-Amodu, Niger Junction, in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The incident occurred at about 1:36pm on Sunday and involved a storey building comprising three-bedroom flats and 10 shops.

The spokesperson of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying two fire appliances were deployed to the scene due to the intensity of the blaze.

According to him, the fire involved highly combustible materials, including mattresses and sofa materials, which contributed to the rapid spread and intensity of the inferno.

"On arrival, the first fire appliance met the fire already fully developed and overwhelming the building. Due to the magnitude of the inferno, a second fire appliance was immediately deployed to reinforce the firefighting operation," he said.

Adekunle said the firefighters worked jointly to prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining properties and successfully brought the blaze under control at about 2:05pm.

He said the collaboration between the federal and state fire services played a significant role in containing the incident and preventing further escalation.

The cause of the fire, he added, remains under investigation, with further details expected upon completion of the investigation.

The Chief Fire Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, commended personnel of both agencies for their bravery, resilience, professionalism and teamwork during the operation.

He urged owners and operators of businesses dealing in highly combustible materials, including mattresses and upholstery products, to prioritise fire safety by maintaining adequate spacing between combustible materials and providing appropriate fire extinguishing equipment on their premises.