A couple and a newborn were rescued after fire gutted multiple residential buildings in Oloje Phase 2 in the Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The state fire service , in a statement by its spokesperson, Hassan Hakeem, said the incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday.

He noted that the incident involved two buildings comprising four-bedroom flats each and a third building consisting of a room-and-parlour self-contained apartment.

“The room-and-parlour self-contained apartment was severely affected by the fire. Fortunately, the occupants, who had recently welcomed a newborn baby, were rescued by members of the community”, Mr Hakeem said.

He explained that there were three vehicles in building occupying the four-bedroom flats, adding that one of the vehicles was completely burnt while firefighters successfully saved the remaining two vehicles from the fire.

“The second four-bedroom flat also sustained damage, particularly to its kitchen, where electrical appliances, including a freezer, were affected. The solar power generation system serving the building was also damaged,” he added.

According to him, an adjoining travel and tours office was affected with its solar power generation system, four tubular batteries and other electrical appliances sustaining damage.

Mr Hakeem noted that a tyre repairer workshop in the area was also completely destroyed after a high-tension transmission line fell on it. 

Preliminary findings showed that the incident resulted from the collapse of a concrete pole supporting a 33kV electricity transmission line. 

The chief fire officer, Alabi Muhammed, sympathised with the affected residents, property owners and business operators over the losses recorded in the incident.

Mr Muhammed advised members of the public to desist from erecting buildings, shops and other structures directly beneath high-tension electricity transmission lines.

He urged property developers and residents to maintain the required safety setbacks around electricity infrastructure in accordance with relevant regulations.

The incident happened hours after fire destroyed a building comprising three-bedroom flats in Kangile village in the Ilorin South Local Government Area of the state.