Newborn baby and parents escape as fire razes apartment in Kwara

A couple and their newborn baby narrowly escaped death after a fire gutted their apartment in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The family was rescued by community members in the early hours of Tuesday, October 27, 2026. 

The spokesperson for the service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, who confirmed the incident in a statement said the couple's one room-and-parlour self-contained apartment was severely affected by the fire while several buildings and businesses were also damaged. 

According to him, the incident resulted from the collapse of a concrete pole supporting a 33kV electricity transmission line. 

The impact reportedly generated sparks that affected nearby properties and electrical appliances, triggering the fire outbreak. 

Adekunle said firefighters responded to a fire emergency at Lawyer Lambo Street, Oloje Phase 2, Ilorin West Local Government Area. 

“The Fire Service received the distress call and turned out at 02:41hrs, following a fire outbreak involving three buildings and other properties in the vicinity,” the statement read.

"The incident involved two buildings comprising four-bedroom flats each and a third building consisting of a room-and-parlour self-contained apartment.

"The room-and-parlour self-contained apartment was severely affected by the fire. 

"Fortunately, the occupants, who had recently welcomed a newborn baby, were rescued by members of the community.

"In one of the four-bedroom flats, three vehicles were present. One of the vehicles was completely burnt, while our gallant firefighters successfully saved the remaining two vehicles from the fire.

"The second four-bedroom flat also sustained damage, particularly to its kitchen, where electrical appliances, including a freezer, were affected. The solar power generation system serving the building was also damaged.

"Furthermore, an adjoining travel and tours office was affected. Its solar power generation system, four tubular batteries and other electrical appliances sustained damage.

"A vulcanising workshop in the vicinity was also completely destroyed after a high-tension transmission line fell on it. The fallen line also landed on the vehicle that was burnt, and a spark reportedly ignited its tyre before the fire escalated within a short period.

"Preliminary findings indicate that the incident resulted from the collapse of a concrete pole supporting a 33kV electricity transmission line. The impact reportedly generated sparks that affected nearby properties and electrical appliances, triggering the fire outbreak.

“Given the electrical hazard posed by the fallen transmission line, the Kwara State Fire Service contacted the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) control room and requested the shutdown of the feeder supplying electricity to the affected area. This measure was necessary to create a safer environment for our firefighters to operate and manage the emergency effectively.”

The Chief Fire Officer, CFS Alabi Muhammed, expressed sympathy to the affected residents, property owners and business operators over the losses recorded in the incident.

He urged members of the public to desist from erecting buildings, shops and other structures directly beneath high-tension electricity transmission lines. 

Muhammed further advised property developers and residents to maintain the required safety setbacks around electricity infrastructure in accordance with relevant regulations.

The Chief Fire Officer emphasised that keeping a safe distance from transmission lines is essential to reducing the risk of electrical accidents, fire outbreaks and damage to lives and property.

He also called on residents to report fallen poles, damaged electrical infrastructure and exposed transmission lines immediately to the relevant authorities, while avoiding contact with fallen wires or any objects in contact with them.