A devastating fire broke out on Thursday morning in Oyo town, reducing a residential building to ashes and destroying properties worth millions of naira.
The incident, which occurred at Prince Bayo Sanda Villa in the Farade area, was reportedly caused by a power surge following the restoration of electricity.
Confirming the incident, the General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, described the situation as tragic and emphasized the importance of fire safety awareness.
“The fire was reported at exactly 10:35 AM, and our team was immediately dispatched to the scene. By the time we arrived, the building was already engulfed in flames. We acted swiftly to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby properties.”
Akinyinka further explained that the fire started while the occupants were away, leaving no one to respond immediately.
“A passerby eventually noticed the fire, but unfortunately, many residents were unaware of the fire service emergency hotline. By the time we were contacted, the fire had already been burning for about 45 minutes, making containment more challenging.”
Residents and eyewitnesses were left in shock over the extent of the damage.
One of the affected residents, Mrs. Funke Adebayo, lamented the loss, saying:
“It is heartbreaking to see a family lose everything in just a few hours. The government needs to do more to educate people on fire safety and emergency response.”
Despite the severe destruction, firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings. The Federal Fire Service, Oyo Command, also joined efforts to extinguish the fire.
Authorities are now urging residents to take fire prevention seriously, avoid electrical overloads, and ensure they have emergency contact numbers readily available.
For immediate fire emergencies, the Oyo State Fire Service can be reached at:
📞 08067439223, 08054353501, or dial 615.
