Two separate fire incidents in Oyo State have left properties worth millions of naira destroyed, though no lives were lost, authorities confirmed.
The first fire broke out on Saturday evening at a primary healthcare centre in Masifa, Idi Araba, Ogbomoso, engulfing the facility’s solar panel room. Swift intervention by the Oyo State Fire Service prevented the flames from spreading to adjoining buildings.
Chairman of the Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, said the blaze may have been triggered by overheated solar batteries and electrical gadgets left plugged in. “Our officers swiftly swung into action, and the fire was restricted from spreading to other parts of the building. No casualty was recorded, and properties worth millions of naira were saved,” he explained.
The second fire occurred on Sunday afternoon at a plastic factory in Saki, close to the General Hospital. According to Akinwande, the factory’s solar power system caught fire, damaging plastic materials and parts of the store. Firefighters managed to curtail the flames, saving what he described as “properties worth billions of naira.”
Investigations suggest that both fires were linked to electrical faults in solar installations, raising safety concerns over maintenance and usage of alternative power systems across the state.
Residents have called on businesses and institutions to implement stricter safety checks on solar infrastructure to prevent similar disasters in the future.
