An early morning fire engulfed a welder’s workshop in the Better Life Area of Sabo, Oyo town, following what officials have described as gross negligence by an apprentice who failed to properly extinguish a fire used for cooking inside the premises.
The General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident on Thursday, stating that the fire outbreak was entirely avoidable and was caused by carelessness with an open flame. According to Akinyinka, the workshop apprentice left smoldering firewood unattended after cooking on Wednesday, which reignited overnight and triggered the blaze.
At exactly 12:11 a.m. on Thursday, the Fire Service received a distress call from a resident, Mujidat Olalere, who noticed the flames and raised the alarm. The fire response team, acting with urgency, raced to the scene and managed to contain the inferno before it could spread to adjacent buildings, thereby averting what could have been a full-blown disaster in the heart of Oyo town.
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“When our men arrived, the workshop was completely engulfed in flames. However, swift and coordinated efforts ensured that nearby properties were saved from destruction,” Akinyinka stated.
He emphasized that while no lives were lost, the incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of fire negligence, especially in workshops and commercial areas. The Fire Service boss urged residents and artisans across the state to prioritize safety, especially when handling open flames, to prevent similar avoidable tragedies.
The incident has sparked conversations on social media, with many calling for stricter fire safety protocols and regular inspections of welding shops and workshops in Oyo State.
