A devastating fire broke out in Okaaki Lane, a residential area of Port Harcourt, on 11 April 2025. Local witnesses say that cans of engine oil under a kerosene stove caught fire. This blaze destroyed two homes. The fire sent thick smoke into the sky. Now, a family and their neighbour must face the loss of all their belongings.
A man’s home caught fire when his son accidentally knocked over a kerosene stove. It spilled onto several cans of engine oil stored under the kitchen stove. Flammable materials quickly fed the flames which spread quickly through the house. The father cut his ear while trying to put out the fire. Residents said no one was seriously injured.
“The smoke was so thick that it seemed to reach the heavens,” said Fredricks Izidor, a neighbor who saw it happen. “We tried to help, but the fire was too fierce. Everything was gone in minutes.”
The affected families were already facing financial struggles. Now, they have lost everything. The community felt deep despair over this huge loss. “People wanted to give up,” Kolawole added. “Some were even hesitant to bring out money to buy soap to clean up what little they could salvage.”
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Kerosene-related fires are a big risk in Nigeria. This is especially true for low-income households that rely on it for cooking and lighting. A 2023 study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information showed that kerosene leads to the highest number of hydrocarbon poisonings in children. This often happens from accidental ingestion or exposure. The study highlights the risks of keeping these substances in homes.
