A major fire outbreak has ravaged Shril-Balaj Industrial Limited, an industrial facility situated in the Olopomeji area of Ibadan, Oyo State, destroying assets and equipment estimated to be worth several millions of naira.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, has left parts of the factory in ruins and disrupted operations within the facility.
According to reports, the fire originated from the recycling section of the company, a unit known for storing and processing an extensive collection of disused and waste tyres.
This section was the epicenter of the blaze and suffered the greatest damage, with flames engulfing machinery, raw materials, and stockpiled tyres, all of which are highly flammable.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described the fire as intense and overwhelming. They recounted how thick, black smoke and fierce flames rose high into the sky, visible from several kilometers away.
The situation triggered panic among factory workers and residents in nearby communities, many of whom feared that the fire could spread to surrounding buildings and pose further danger to lives and property.
Speaking on the incident, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed that the agency received a distress call at precisely 7:07 am on Sunday morning.
According to him, the preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was sparked by the explosion of a machine that was operational at the time. The explosion ignited nearby combustible materials, particularly the tyres, which intensified the spread of the fire within the recycling section.
Akinwande commended the prompt response of his firemen, who swiftly mobilized to the scene and battled the raging inferno. Despite the intensity of the fire and the challenging conditions posed by the burning tyres, the firefighters succeeded in containing the blaze, preventing it from spreading to other sections of the industrial complex. He noted that their intervention saved the company from suffering total devastation.
Additionally, Akinwande emphasized the importance of strict adherence to industrial safety measures, particularly in facilities dealing with flammable materials. He urged factory operators across the state to ensure that their machines are regularly maintained, and that adequate fire prevention and control systems are in place to mitigate the risk of such incidents.
As of the time of filing this report, the management of Shril-Balaj Industrial Limited has yet to issue an official statement addressing the incident or disclosing the full extent of the damage. However, sources within the company hinted that a comprehensive assessment is underway to evaluate losses and determine the cause of the machine explosion that ignited the fire.
The incident has once again raised concerns about industrial safety standards and emergency preparedness in factories across the state, especially those involved in recycling and manufacturing processes that deal with hazardous or highly combustible materials.