Two separate incidents that occurred in different parts of Ilorin, Kwara State on Sunday and in the early hours of yesterday destroyed a school building and part of a residential house.
A fire incident that occurred at about 6.08pm on Sunday destroyed nine classrooms at Grace International School, Awolowo street, Tanke, Ilorin.
Another fire incident that occurred at about 01:25 on Monday destroyed three rooms in a residential building at Akumaju compound, Ita-Amodu area, Ilorin.
LEADERSHIP gathered that while the fire outbreak at the Grace International School was caused by an undergrowth set on fire by an unknown person, the incident at Akumaju compound originated from a refuse set ablaze by an unidentified individual, which then spread to the residential building.
The spokesman of Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle confirmed the two fire incidents in separate statements issued in Ilorin on Monday.
He said:” On the evening of Sunday, February 25th, 2024 at approximately 18:06 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service received an urgent call reporting a fire incident at Grace International School, located on Awolowo Street beside Kobiowu Mosque in the Tanke area of Ilorin, Kwara State.
“Upon arrival at the scene, the firefighters were met with a distressing sight: a block of classrooms engulfed in flames.
“Tragically, the fire had already ravaged nine out of the 14 classrooms, leaving a significant portion of the school in ruins.
“Through meticulous investigation, it was determined that the fire originated from an undergrowth that had been deliberately set ablaze by an unidentified individual. The flames then rapidly spread to the school building, causing extensive damage.”
On the fire that gutted the Akumaju compound, Adekunle said, “On Monday, February 26, 2024, at approximately 01:25 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service received an urgent call to respond to a fire at the Akumaju compound in the Ita-Amodu area of Ilorin. Without hesitation, the firefighters promptly departed from the station with their fire appliance.
“Upon arrival at the scene, they were met with a daunting sight: multiple rooms engulfed in flames. Despite the intensity of the fire, they managed to contain it, preventing further devastation. Sadly, the fire had already ravaged three out of the six rooms in the compound. Through thorough investigation, it was determined that the fire originated from a refuse set ablaze by an unidentified individual, which then spread to the affected rooms.”
