A housemaid accidentally set fire to her employer’s four-bedroom flat in Ilorin on Thursday.
The incident occurred at about 10:42 a.m. at No. 6, Phase 1, off Baba-Soja Street, Akerebiata, Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The Head of the Department of Media and Publicity for the Kwara Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said the fire started when the maid was trying to light a gas cooker.
He explained, “The maid was attempting to strike matches while the kitchen was already filled with liquefied gas. The ignition finally happened, causing an explosion and a fire outbreak.”
Adekunle reported that the house was badly damaged in the fire. “The fire crew responded immediately and found the four-bedroom bungalow fully engulfed in flames,” he said. Despite the severity of the fire, the maid was unharmed.
“The firefighters worked hard to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings,” Adekunle added. “Thanks to their expertise, the fire was eventually extinguished.”
The director of Kwara Fire Service, Prince Falade John, expressed sympathy to those affected and emphasized the importance of safety precautions. Adekunle shared, “The director urged the public to always strike matches before turning on gas appliances to avoid such incidents in the future.”
