An early morning fire on Tuesday gutted Ebunlomo Hotel and Resort located in the Osin area of Ita Elepa, off Asa Dam Road in Ilorin.

It was gathered that the fire, which started around 5:17 am, completely destroyed a section and disrupted operations at the facility.

There are about 23 rooms in the building, but officials said the situation could have been worse if not for the quick arrival of the Kwara State Fire Service.

Firemen moved in immediately and began a coordinated attack on the flames.

Their intervention stopped the fire from spreading to other rooms and prevented further damage, it was further learnt.

The spokesperson of the service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the incident.

He said a preliminary investigation showed that the fire was triggered by a power surge.

According to him, the Director of the fire service, Prince Falade Olumuyiwa, advised hotel owners and residents to install surge protectors and ensure that their circuit breakers are in good condition.

He called for regular electrical checks, noting that many fire incidents in the state have been linked to power-related faults.