- Injured staff was rushed to a private hospital in Ilesha
- Police operatives joined residents to put off the fire
Unknown Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria employee who worked at Gold FM in Ilesa, Osun State, was hospitalised after suffering an injury in a fire that destroyed a portion of the station on Sunday.
Although the exact origin of the incident was not immediately known, sources claim that a loud boom coming from the station’s transmission hall preceded the fire, which is alleged to have destroyed equipment.
It was learned that the injured employee, who was reportedly among the employees that spent the night on the property, suffered burns and was taken urgently to a private hospital in Ilesha for treatment.
Residents who responded to staff-issued distress calls were joined by personnel to put out the fire, according to a source close to the station who asked to remain anonymous in an interview with The Punch.
“It occurred early on Sunday morning. The transmission hall had a portion demolished. The broadcasting equipment was ruined. Before the workers who slept on the grounds could go to the transmission hall after hearing a loud boom from it, it was already ablaze.
“A staff was injured. The incident shocked him and he also sustained burns and had to be rushed to a hospital for treatment,” the source said.
When contacted, Osun Police Command Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, said police operatives responded to a distress call from the station and joined residents to put off the fire.
She said, “Our operatives responded to the distress call when the fire started. They joined the residents to put out the fire. Let all of us always observe safety measures regarding our appliances to prevent an inferno. An investigation has commenced into the incident.”