Two separate fire outbreaks have ravaged production facilities in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, destroying properties valued at millions of naira.

One of the incidents happened late Friday night at Kunzol Multi-Sector Nigeria Limited, a yam flour and garri processing factory situated in the Kilanko–Agbonka area of Ilorin South Local Government.

It was gathered that the blaze, which stated around 10:10 p.m., was caused by heat from a furnace used during production, which subsequently set off flammable items within the factory.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, the Head of Media and Publicity, Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed that the entire production section of the factory was already engulfed in flames before firefighters reached the scene.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was triggered by remnants of unquenched fire, which ignited combustible materials in close proximity, leading to rapid escalation,” Adekunle said.

He also outlined that firefighters battled the inferno and prevented it from spreading to nearby buildings, thereby averting what could have been a wider industrial disaster.

The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, warned factory operators to ensure proper shutdown of heat sources at the close of work.

“Negligence with fire remnants remains a leading cause of avoidable industrial fires. Business premises must adopt strict fire-safety procedures,” he added.

The second incident was an early-morning fire on Saturday that gutted Unik AJ Prints, a printing facility along Opomalu Road in the Ilorin East Local Government Area.

The fire, which occurred around 3:15 a.m. according to eyewitnesses, affected a storey building housing two large halls, including printing machines, inverter units, and other production materials.

Firefighters, according to Adekunle, responded promptly despite the challenging early-morning conditions.

“Their swift and determined efforts successfully prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining structures, averting further damage in the densely built area,” he said.

Preliminary findings showed that the blaze was likely caused by a spark from the facility’s inverter system, which ignited nearby flammable materials.

Commenting on the second incident, Falade advised businesses using solar and inverter systems to install them in isolated, fire-protected environments.

“We urge residents to adopt fire-retardant materials and ensure proper installation of alternative power systems to reduce risks,” he stated.

The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring public safety and rapid emergency response across the state.