OYO TOWN – Panic gripped residents of Olugbile House in the Iyalamu area of Oyo town on Thursday morning when a fire outbreak, caused by an unattended cigarette stub, gutted parts of an eight-room residential building.
The incident, which occurred around 5:00 a.m., destroyed household items in two rooms but claimed no lives.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, said firefighters promptly arrived at the scene to contain the blaze.
“Upon arrival, our officers met two rooms out of eight engulfed in flames. The fire was subdued and prevented from spreading further. Thankfully, no casualties were recorded, and properties worth millions of naira were saved,” Akinwande said.
He noted that the fire started after a lighted cigarette ignited combustible materials. The agency used the opportunity to sensitise residents on fire prevention, particularly the need for fire extinguishers in every household.
The Oyo Fire Service urged residents to report emergencies promptly via its hotlines 08067439223, 08054353501, or 615, stressing that negligence remains a leading cause of recurrent fire incidents in the state.
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Authorities warned that with the dry season approaching, careless smoking, unsafe use of electrical appliances, and mishandling of cooking gas could trigger more devastating outbreaks if residents fail to adopt strict safety measures.
