Property worth N87.2million was yesterday destroyed by fire that gutted the Peace Pharmaceutical Company in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The swift intervention of men of the State Fire Service, however, saved N1.4 billion worth of property from being destroyed by the rampaging fire.
The spokesman of the State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle who confirmed the incident, said it occurred at about 11: 55am.
“The investigation into the cause of the inferno revealed that it originated from the process of siphoning ethanol from an ethanol tanker to the company’s ethanol reservoir. A spark emitting from the pumping machine ignited the flammable liquid, leading to the outbreak of the fire,” Adekunle stated.
He said policemen also joined in the rescue operation in order to maintain orderliness and stave off any possible aggression from a mob and staff of the company towards the firemen.
He said firefighters from the Federal Fire Service also complemented the efforts of their state’s counterparts in putting out the fire.
“This unfortunate incident resulted in substantial damage to the Peace Pharmaceutical Company. However, thanks to the swift and coordinated response of the firemen and the support of relevant authorities, the fire was brought under control, limiting further potential damage to the facility and surrounding areas.
“The fire incident at Peace Pharmaceutical Company was a challenging emergency that required immediate and coordinated action from the fire crew and supporting authorities. Their timely response and professional handling of the situation prevented further escalation and potential harm. As a result, it is essential to learn from this experience and implement necessary safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“The director of Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade Olumuyiwa advised that to avoid similar incidents in the future, residents and property owners in the state should install and regularly maintain appropriate fire safety measures,” Adekunle stated.
