By Kayode Sanni-Arewa and Prosper Olayiwola
An early morning fire yesterday gutted the popular Kara Market in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The inferno consumed 22 plank shops and six containers. 
The incident was said to have emanated from an improperly extinguished fire used for cooking.
Spokesperson of the state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, who confirmed the incident, said the incident happened about 1:35 am.
“On arrival at the scene, firefighters discovered that out of a total of 323 shops in the market, comprising 22 plank shops and seven kiosks, the fire affected 22 plank shops and six container shops.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was caused by negligence, as one of the occupants of the plank shops failed to properly extinguish fire used for cooking.
“The fire later reignited, spreading rapidly to nearby shops.
“The timely intervention by the state firemen helped prevent further escalation and safeguarded hundreds of other shops and properties from destruction.”
He urged the public to ensure proper handling of fire and to take safety measures seriously, especially in marketplaces where combustible materials are in abundance.
