A residential building was, on Thursday morning, gutted by fire at Olugbile House, Iyalamu area of Oyo town in Oyo State.
Investigations by PUNCH Online revealed that the incident occurred around 5:00 am as a result of a lighted cigarette stub left unattended by one of the occupants and ignited combustible materials, which set the house ablaze.
Though no life was lost, it was further gathered that two out of eight rooms were affected, while household items and properties were destroyed.
Confirming the incident in Ibadan, the state capital, on Thursday, the State Chairman of Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, said the agency’s personnel immediately mobilised to the scene.
He said, “Upon arrival at the scene of the incident, our officers met two rooms out of eight rooms of an ancient residential building on fire. They quickly swung into action, and the fire was subdued and prevented from spreading beyond the two rooms.
“The fire was completely extinguished, the occupants, sympathisers and onlookers were sensitised on fire prevention, particularly the importance of having fire extinguishers at every household in the state.
“The fire incident was a result of a lighted cigarette stub left unattended by one of the occupants and ignited combustible materials, which set the house ablaze.
“No casualty was recorded; the agency was able to save properties worth millions of naira. Report fire incident and give correct address, contact our emergency lines: 08067439223 and 08054353501 or 615.”
PUNCH Online reports that the incident highlights recurring fire outbreaks in Oyo State, often traced to negligence such as improper handling of electrical appliances, cooking gas, and cigarettes.
According to the Oyo State Fire Service, dozens of residential and market fire incidents have been recorded since the beginning of 2025, resulting in millions of naira in losses.
Authorities have repeatedly urged residents to adopt strict fire safety measures, including installing basic extinguishers, avoiding unsafe smoking habits indoors, and promptly reporting fire outbreaks to emergency lines.
Fire outbreaks tend to increase during dry seasons when harmattan winds make combustible materials more flammable, making early response critical to preventing large-scale damage. (Punch)
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