Kwara State government has launched an investigation into the cause of a fire outbreak at the State COVID-19 Centre located within the Sobi Specialist Hospital, Alagbado, Ilorin.

The fire incident occurred on Tuesday at about 8.35am.

The management of Kwara State Hospitals Management Board confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.

The management, in the statement signed by Ladi Alao, said the fire outbreak occurred at about 8.35am on Tuesday.

The statement read: “Yesterday, the 2nd Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at about 8:35 a.m., there was a reported incident of fire outbreak at the COVID-19 Centre at Sobi Specialist Hospital.

“The incident was reported to the Executive Secretary, Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Abdulraheem Malik, who immediately contacted the Kwara State Fire Service at 8:47a.m.

“Operatives of the Kwara State Fire Service were at the scene at 9:03a.m. to put out the fire. We are indeed impressed by the speed, commitment, and professionalism of the fire service. We thank the Fire Service for the promptness!

” The cause of the fire was still unknown at the time of this press release. Investigation is ongoing by the Kwara State Hospitals Management Board in collaboration with the Kwara State Fire Service to unravel the cause of the fire. No life was lost, no injury was reported.”

The spokesman of the State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, also confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.

“Upon arrival, the firemen found one of the six wards ablaze and immediately began firefighting efforts to contain and extinguish the flames to prevent extensive damage.

“Investigation revealed an unidentified person had set an undergrowth on fire, which then spread to the COVID-19 Centre ward. Fortunately, no lives were lost, and no injuries were recorded,” Adekunle stated.