A female housemaid unintentionally set her employer’s four-bedroom flat on fire on Thursday morning, August, 12, in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The incident was confirmed in a statement by Hassan Adekunle, the Head of the Department of Media and Publicity at the Kwara Fire Service.
According to Adekunle, the fire broke out when the housemaid attempted to light the gas cooker while the kitchen was already filled with liquefied gas.
The explosion occurred at around 10:42 a.m. at No. 6, Phase 1, off Baba-Soja Street, Akerebiata, in Ilorin East Local Government Area.
Adekunle explained that after several failed attempts to strike a match, the ignition finally happened, leading to an explosion that engulfed the four-bedroom bungalow in flames.
Although the house was severely damaged, the housemaid, who was in the kitchen when the fire started, miraculously escaped unharmed.
Firefighters from the Kwara Fire Service responded swiftly to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings. Their prompt action, coupled with their expertise, eventually brought the fire under control.
The Director of Kwara Fire Service, Prince Falade John, expressed his sympathy to those affected by the fire and urged the public to adhere strictly to safety precautions.
He emphasized the importance of striking matches before turning on gas appliances to prevent similar incidents in the future.
