OVERNIGHT CANDLE TRIGGERS FIRE OUTBREAK AT CHURCH IN KWARA

OVERNIGHT CANDLE TRIGGERS FIRE OUTBREAK AT CHURCH IN KWARA

A fire outbreak on Tuesday morning destroyed parts of a church building in Ilorin, Kwara State, after a candle reportedly left burning overnight ignited nearby flammable materials within the church premises.

The incident occurred at Christ Celestial Church of God, Ife Oluwa, located in the Tanke area of Ilorin, where four rooms within the boys’ quarters were affected before emergency responders brought the situation under control.

According to information released by the Kwara State Fire Service, the incident was reported at approximately 6:18 a.m., prompting an immediate emergency response from firefighters who quickly moved to the scene to prevent the fire from spreading further.

Spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed that firefighters acted swiftly and successfully contained the blaze before it reached other sections of the church building and surrounding properties.

Preliminary investigations by the fire service revealed that the incident was caused by human negligence after an unattended candle was left burning overnight inside one of the rooms.

According to the agency, the candle flame eventually came in contact with combustible materials nearby, resulting in the fire outbreak.

“The incident involved the boys’ quarters within the church premises, where four rooms were affected by the fire. Investigation indicates that the fire started after a candle left burning overnight ignited surrounding flammable materials,” the statement noted.

Firefighters reportedly arrived promptly and worked quickly to contain the inferno, preventing more extensive damage to other parts of the church compound and nearby buildings.

Reacting to the incident, Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, urged residents to exercise greater caution when using candles and other open flames, particularly in enclosed spaces or unattended environments.

He warned members of the public against leaving naked flames unattended overnight, stressing that such practices continue to pose serious fire hazards capable of causing avoidable property damage.

The fire service also encouraged residents to adopt safer alternative lighting sources while ensuring combustible materials are kept far away from open flames at all times.

Authorities said the agency remains committed to protecting lives and property through rapid emergency response operations and continuous public awareness campaigns on fire prevention and safety measures.

The latest incident adds to recent fire outbreaks recorded in Ilorin in recent weeks, including an earlier blaze that destroyed a containerised supermarket along Lubcon Road in the Mandate area after reportedly being triggered by an electrical spark from a high-tension power line.