Faulty Solar Wiring Ignites Blaze at Ilorin Residence

A residential property located at No. 38 Oluwalogbon Street, in the Ijooro area of Asa-Dam, Ilorin, Kwara State, experienced a fire outbreak on Tuesday. The incident, which saw one room engulfed in flames, was reportedly caused by a spark from solar wiring that came into contact with flammable materials.

The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed receiving an emergency call regarding the blaze. Their team swiftly mobilized, arriving at the scene by 4:14 pm, where they immediately began efforts to extinguish the fire and prevent it from extending to other sections of the building.

Details of the incident were made public in a statement released on Wednesday by Hassan Adekunle, the Public Relations Officer for the Kwara State Fire Service. The statement, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH in Ilorin, elaborated on the situation, saying: “The building comprises approximately three-bedroom flats, and the fire affected one of the rooms. Our firefighters swiftly commenced firefighting operations and successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building.”

According to preliminary investigations conducted by the service, the origin of the fire was indeed a spark from the solar power installation's wiring, which then ignited combustible items within the affected room.

Alabi Muhammed, the Chief Fire Officer, commended his personnel for their prompt and effective response. He also used the opportunity to advise residents across the state to exercise greater diligence in ensuring the safety of both solar and conventional electrical installations within their homes. Muhammed emphasized, “Property owners should engage qualified professionals for electrical and solar installations and ensure that damaged or faulty wiring is promptly attended to in order to prevent fire outbreaks.”

The Fire Service further underscored the critical importance of routine maintenance for all solar and electrical systems, noting that this recent event serves as a stark reminder of the hazards associated with installations that are either improperly fitted or poorly maintained. The agency reiterated its unwavering commitment to promptly address emergencies and safeguard lives and assets throughout Kwara State.