By Monsurat Abisoye
Panic swept through the Old Garage area of Osogbo, Osun State, on Sunday after a fire engulfed a warehouse used for storing plastic containers, raising concerns among residents and traders over the possibility of the blaze spreading to nearby buildings.
The affected warehouse is situated close to a filling station and the Dugbe Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, a location that heightened fears as the fire raged.
The strategic location of the warehouse sparked anxiety among residents and business owners in the area, many of whom gathered to watch emergency responders work tirelessly to prevent the flames from spreading to surrounding structures.
A petty trader operating near the warehouse, Modupe Olatoye, said smoke was first noticed billowing from the building around 2 p.m., prompting an immediate alert to the authorities.
“We saw smoke coming from the building at about 2 p.m. and immediately alerted the Oke Fia Fire Station in Osogbo.
“The firefighters responded promptly and have been battling the fire ever since. The warehouse is surrounded by other buildings and is very close to a filling station.
“People are worried because of the possibility of the fire spreading, but the firefighters are doing everything possible to contain it,” Olatoye said.
Speaking on the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Fire Service, Ibrahim Adekunle, disclosed that five fire trucks had been deployed to the scene to combat the blaze.
“We are focused on preventing the fire from escalating. About five fire trucks are on the ground. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
“The incident was reported to us around 2 p.m. A full investigation will commence after the fire has been completely extinguished,” Adekunle said.
As of the time of filing this report, the extent of damage caused by the fire had not been determined, while efforts to extinguish the blaze completely were still ongoing.
