Child's lighter play sparks fire disaster in Kwara

A child playing with a lighter in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, caused a fire in a three‑bedroom flat, DAILY POST reports.

State fire service spokesman Hassan Adekunle said the incident occurred at about 5:08 p.m. on Thursday at No. 38, Aduagbemi Street, behind Uniform Company, off Asa Dam Road in the Ilorin metropolis.

He explained that the fire affected one room of the flat. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a child playing with a lighter and using it to ignite pieces of paper,” he said. “The burning paper subsequently came into contact with nearby combustible materials, resulting in a fire outbreak.”

By the time neighbors noticed the incident and raised the alarm, the fire had already escalated. Firefighters arrived quickly, brought the situation under control, and prevented the blaze from spreading to other parts of the building or adjoining properties.

State Fire Service Director Alabi Muhammed urged parents and guardians to keep matches, lighters and other ignition sources out of reach of children. He emphasized the need for constant supervision and education about the dangers of playing with fire.

The director also advised residents to install basic fire safety equipment in their homes and to notify the service immediately if a fire is discovered, as early intervention can greatly reduce damage and loss of life.