Power Line Collapse Set Ilorin Residential Compound Ablaze *** Fire Service Averts Major Tragedy
By Bamidele Aremu
A late-night fire outbreak on Thursday razed parts of a residential compound in the Asa-Dam area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, following the collapse of a high-tension transmission line on the premises.
According to the Kwara State Fire Service, the incident occurred around 9:12 p.m. at Alfa Olorunkemi compound, located in the Asa-Dam area. The fire was reportedly triggered when a 33kVA power line fell onto a plastic overhead water tank situated within the premises of a building comprising three units of three-bedroom apartments.
Spokesman of the Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said the quick response of fire crews prevented what could have been a full-scale disaster.
“The fire crew immediately mobilized and arrived at the scene to discover that the blaze originated from contact between the high-voltage transmission line and a water tank,” Adekunle said in a statement issued on Friday.
“They began firefighting operations to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to the rest of the building.”
It was revealed that firefighting efforts were initially hampered by an active power supply from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), which continued to energize the affected transmission line, posing significant danger to both firefighters and residents.
“We had to urgently contact the IBEDC control room to request a shutdown of the feeder supplying electricity to the area. Once the power was cut off, the crew was able to fully extinguish the fire and secure the premises,” Adekunle explained.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, praised the professionalism and speed of the response team and credited their swift action with saving lives and preventing total destruction of the property.
“Our firefighters acted quickly and bravely under challenging conditions. This could have escalated rapidly, but we were able to prevent a major tragedy,” Falade said.
He also used the opportunity to caution the public about the dangers of constructing residential buildings too close to power lines, describing such practices as “a serious threat to life and property.”
“We strongly advise residents and developers to ensure that no structures are built under or near transmission cables. Prevention is always better than cure,” he added.
