The Kwara Fire Service has attributed the inferno that consumed the main building of the Kwara State High Court complex in Ilorin on Tuesday morning to power surge.

It also said the 40 offices, three open courts and the registry department were gutted in the inferno, but the complex was saved from complete ruin.

The Spokesman for the State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle said this while confirming the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State on Tuesday

Adekunle stated that the agency received a distress call over the incident at about 07.33hours and responded swiftly.

The statement read in part: “Responding swiftly, the fire crew rushed to the scene to find the imposing State High Court building ablaze.

“This building, housing 40 offices and three open courtrooms, was in peril, with the registry department and litigation office particularly affected by the inferno.

“With commendable courage and determination, the firefighters immediately commenced their efforts to combat the raging flames.

“Working tirelessly, they skillfully navigated through the burning structure, deploying their expertise and resources to contain and extinguish the fire.

“Despite the daunting challenges they faced, they succeeded in saving the Court from complete ruin, preventing what could have been a catastrophic loss.

“Subsequent investigation into the cause of the fire revealed that it was triggered by a power surge, highlighting the importance of electrical safety measures,” the statement read.

“The fire incident affected 40 offices, three open courts and registry department.

The statement quoted the Director, Kwara State Fire Service, Falade Olumuyiwa, to have “urged the public to prioritise safety awareness and precautions in their daily activities.

“This call to action underscores the critical role that vigilance and preparedness play in preventing such tragedies from occurring in the future,” it added.

(NAN)