A fire outbreak on Wednesday night gutted a vehicle at E-Phoenix Hotel, located at Tanke Junction in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the incident and the prompt intervention of firefighters to contain the blaze.
He said, “On Wednesday, 29th April 2026, at 23:38hrs, the Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire outbreak at E-Phoenix Hotel, Tanke Junction, Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State.”
The PUNCH gathered that the incident involved a Honda Accord vehicle with registration number DTH 753 AA, with the fire primarily affecting the engine compartment before it was brought under control.
Firefighters were said to have quickly mobilised to the scene and succeeded in extinguishing the fire by about 00:15hrs, thereby preventing it from spreading to nearby vehicles and parts of the hotel premises.
“Preliminary findings indicated that the inferno may have been triggered by a spark from the vehicle’s wiring system, which subsequently ignited flammable components within the engine area,” Hassan disclosed.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, urged motorists to prioritise routine maintenance of their vehicles, especially electrical systems, to prevent similar incidents.
He said, “Vehicle owners should ensure regular maintenance and inspection of electrical wiring systems, particularly in older vehicles.
“Faulty wiring should be disconnected immediately, and motorists should avoid makeshift electrical repairs.
“It is also important to keep basic firefighting equipment, such as portable extinguishers, in vehicles for early response,” he advised.
The fire service reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across Kwara State, noting that timely emergency response remains critical in reducing losses from fire outbreaks.
The PUNCH had earlier reported a series of fire incidents in Kwara State, including an inferno in March that destroyed three containerised shops at Eyenkorin Roundabout in Asa Local Government Area.
Similarly, on April 11, another fire incident affected a shop located in a multi-purpose building along Pakata Road in the Ita-Ogunbo area of Ilorin, further underscoring the recurring nature of such emergencies within the state capital.
