Three rescued as fire destroys three bungalows in Oyo

Members of the state Fire Service during the operation at Amosun Compound, Aremo in Ibadan. Photo: Ademola Adegbite.

Three persons were rescued with minor injuries after fire destroyed three bungalow residential buildings at Amosun Compound, Aremo, in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday.

Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Online that the fire started around 12:05 a.m. when an electrical appliance left plugged in during a power outage ignited as electricity was restored.

Our correspondent gathered that the fire raged for more than an hour before being extinguished, while the injured were rushed to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.

The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Services Reform, Moroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident in Ibadan on Friday.

In a statement, Akinwande said, “The agency received a distress call at exactly 00:15 hours today (Friday) from Mr Mayowa about a house on fire at Amosun Compound, Aremo, Ibadan. The fire personnel, led by CFS Adekola, promptly responded and were deployed to the scene.

“Upon arrival, three bungalow residential buildings were engulfed by flames. Our officers immediately swung into action. The attending crew requested an additional fire truck from the Fire Service Headquarters and worked to contain the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings and properties. The blaze was successfully extinguished.

“Three persons were rescued alive with minor injuries and treated at a nearby hospital. The fire incident resulted from an electrical appliance left plugged in during a power outage, which ignited when power was restored.”

He urged residents to always unplug appliances when not in use to prevent fire disasters.

Akinwande also advised residents to save the agency’s emergency lines — 08067439223, 08054353501, or 615 (toll-free) — saying, “The fire had been burning for an hour before the fire service was called.”

He stressed the importance of installing fire extinguishers at home to curb early-stage fires.

In a related development, the Oyo State Fire Service said it had doused a fire at Ajibade Street, opposite Guarantee Trust Bank, Mokola, Ibadan.

Akinwande said, “The fire emergency was reported at exactly 19:14 hours on Thursday through a telephone call from DPO Bódìjà Estate about a house on fire at the above address. The fire personnel, led by CFS Adekola, promptly mobilized and responded.

“On arrival, we found heaps of refuse burning and threatening nearby buildings. Our firemen immediately worked to prevent the flames from spreading to surrounding buildings and propertiesfirefighters. No casualty was recorded. The operation was successfully carried out, and properties worth millions of naira were saved. A crew from the Federal Fire Service was also in attendance. The refuse was set on fire by an unknown person.”

He also admonished the community to desist from setting refuse and bushes on fire during the dry season to avert potential fire incidents.