Six lock-up shops were on Monday razed by fire at Oyinkansola Hammed Street, Monatan, Ibadan, Oyo State, following a suspected electricity surge.

The Oyo State Fire Services Agency said no casualty was recorded in the incident, which was reported to the agency at about 2:20 a.m.

According to the agency, a resident, Mr Akande, alerted its personnel through a telephone call after noticing that some shops were on fire.

The firefighting crew, led by an Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent immediately mobilised to the scene.

The agency said on arrival, the firefighters discovered that six of the 34 lock-up shops in the area had been affected by the blaze.

It said the crew promptly commenced firefighting operations and successfully brought the fire under control, preventing it from spreading to the remaining 28 shops and other adjoining properties.

The agency attributed the suspected cause of the fire to an electrical power surge.

It added that the fire appliance returned safely to the station at 4:03 a.m. and was placed on standby.

The Special Adviser on Fire Services Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Dr.  Moroof Akinwande, urged residents to remain vigilant and adopt necessary fire safety measures.

Akinwande urged shop owners and households to install and maintain functional fire extinguishers to enable them to tackle fire outbreaks at the incipient stage.

He stressed the importance of fire prevention and preparedness in reducing the loss of lives and property to fire incidents across the state.