Prompt response by firefighters on Sunday saved property worth millions of naira after a fire incident engulfed seven shops at BCGA along Gbekuba Road, Apata, Ibadan.

The fire, which started at about 3:06 a.m., was reportedly caused by electrical sparks that ignited nearby combustible materials, leading to a rapid spread within a section of the row of shops.

According to a statement by the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, a distress call was received through telephone communication alerting the agency to the incident.

Firefighters led by Chief Fire Superintendent (CFS) Adesina were immediately deployed to the scene, where seven out of 30 shops had already been engulfed by flames and thick smoke.

The operatives quickly launched a coordinated firefighting operation and successfully prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining shops and other parts of the building.

The agency said no casualty was recorded in the incident, adding that the fire was completely extinguished before the firefighting team returned to the station at about 4:20 a.m.

Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Mr Moroof Adebayo Akinwande, urged residents and business owners to engage qualified technicians for electrical installations and ensure that appliances were switched off and unplugged after use.

He also stressed the need for functional firefighting equipment in shops, homes, and commercial buildings to contain fire outbreaks at an early stage.