A devastating fire outbreak on Thursday morning razed a residential building in Oyo town, destroying properties worth millions of naira.
The incident occurred at Prince Bayo Sanda Villa in the Farade area and was reportedly triggered by a power surge.
Confirming the incident, the General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, described the situation as unfortunate, emphasizing the need for residents to be more vigilant about fire safety.
“The fire was reported at exactly 10:35 AM, and our men were immediately deployed to the scene. Upon arrival, we found the building completely engulfed in flames. We acted swiftly to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings,” Akinyinka stated.
He further revealed that the fire started after electricity was restored while the occupants were away, leaving no one to take immediate action.
“It was later discovered by a passerby, but unfortunately, many people in the vicinity did not know the fire service emergency hotline. By the time the report reached us, the fire had already been burning for about 45 minutes, making it more difficult to contain,” he added.
Eyewitnesses expressed shock at the extent of the damage, with some lamenting the loss of valuable possessions.
A resident, identified as Mrs. Funke Adebayo, said, “It is heartbreaking to see a family lose everything in just a few hours. The government needs to do more to educate people on fire safety.”
Despite the destruction of the building, firefighters managed to protect nearby properties.
The Federal Fire Service, Oyo Command, also joined in efforts to bring the fire under control.
Authorities have urged residents to take precautions against fire hazards, avoid electrical overloads, and save emergency contact numbers for quick response during fire incidents.
The Oyo State Fire Service emergency lines remain 08067439223, 08054353501, or 615.
