A fire incident that occurred on Thursday nearly consumed a three-bedroom flat at the Mandate Estate, New Yidi road, Ilorin, Kwara State.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the fire outbreak was caused by a 9-year-old child who was playing with matches.
The matches it was learnt ignited a mattress in the house, which escalated and nearly burnt down the building.
The spokesman of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday.
The statement read: “The Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire outbreak on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at No. 52 Mandate Housing Estate, Ilorin, where a three-bedroom flat was nearly destroyed. The fire was caused by a 9-year-old child playing with matches, which ignited a mattress and escalated the blaze.
“We strongly urge the public to prioritize safety at all times, especially as children spend their holiday at home with limited supervision while many parents are at work. Parents and guardians are advised to keep matches, lighters, and other flammable materials out of children’s reach and educate children on the dangers of playing with fire.
“As the festive season approaches, we must emphasise the dangers of firecrackers, commonly known as ‘bangers’.”
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