Confusion as Fire Guts Ondo Governor’s Office

Confusion as Fire Guts Ondo Governor’s Office

Confusion today ensued at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure in Ondo State when part of the executive chamber went up in flame reportedly caused by surge from one of the air conditioners in the chamber.

The fire, which started around 1:45 p.m. came at the time the state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, was playing host to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alli Modu Sheriff, who paid him a courtesy visit.

While Mimiko was holding meeting with Sheriff in his inner office located on the first floor, state party executive officers, other people on the PDP national chairman and journalists were asked to move to the executive chamber preparatory to the briefing by the visitor.

The fire started as soon as everybody was settling down waiting for the arrival of the governor and Sheriff.

As expected, confusion ensued among everybody in the chamber immediately the fire was noticed as everybody rushed towards the exit door.

However, those who could muster courage, including security men, took hold of fire extinguisher in the chamber and applied the contents while calls were put through to men of the state fire service for further solution.

Despite the panic among the people, nobody was injured as a result of the incident.

As the confusion raged, the governor and his visitor moved to the Presidential Lodge within the Government House where the meeting was later held.

The fire was finally put out in less than 20 minutes by the fire fighters who arrived in promptly.

Speaking on the incident, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said the fire occurred as a result of power surge that affected one of air conditioners in the ante-room of the Exco Chamber.

Akinmade, who was supported by his counterpart in the Works Ministry, Mr. Gboye Adegbenro, said the state fire fighters responded swiftly with their equipment and put out the fire, and that people returned to their work.

He said surge is an incident which happens without giving any notice even in individuals’ homes.

The commissioner said the clarification became necessary so that the people would be aware of what happened before unnecessary insinuation would be raised.

Adegbenro said the fact that the fire was put out in less than 20 minutes after the arrival of firemen means that it was a minor one, noting that not up to one quarter of water brought was used.