Fire Service Prevents Major Blaze at Ilorin Recycling Plant

The Kwara State Fire Service successfully contained a major fire outbreak at a plastic recycling facility in Ilorin on Sunday, averting potential widespread damage to life and property.

The incident occurred at approximately 5:10 p.m. at Madfa Nigeria Enterprises, located in the Biada area of Ilorin South Local Government. According to a statement issued late Sunday by the Head of Media and Publicity, PFO Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, the inferno engulfed a building used for plastic recycling.

The fire was reportedly severe due to the large quantity of highly combustible plastic materials stored within the premises. Firefighters responded promptly to the emergency call, deploying two fire trucks to the scene.

“The fire was intense because of the nature of materials involved, but the professional and gallant efforts of our firefighters significantly reduced the impact and prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining structures,” Adekunle stated in the release.

The service commended the dedication and resilience of the responding officers, whose coordinated efforts brought the situation under control.

Preliminary findings indicate that the blaze originated from ongoing welding work inside the facility. It was reported that sparks from a welding electrode fell onto stacks of plastic materials, igniting the fire and causing it to spread rapidly.

Reacting to the incident, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, issued a stern warning to industrial operators and artisans against negligence during high-risk operations like welding.

“I want to use this opportunity to advise companies to strictly observe fire safety protocols, including clearing combustible materials from welding areas, using fire-resistant shields, and ensuring the availability of fire extinguishers,” Falade said.

He emphasized that strict adherence to safety standards is crucial to significantly reducing the incidence of industrial fire outbreaks across the state and reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protecting lives, property, and industrial assets in Kwara.