A raging fire swept through 14 buildings in Lagos Island market, around the Balogun and Dosunmu axis, on Tuesday, destroying goods and property worth millions of naira.
According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, two structures out of the 14 affected buildings collapsed before being contained by the firefighters.
The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, in a statement issued on X disclosed that the fire originated from the refuelling of a generator and exacerbated by fuel storage in kegs at a penthouse housing a printing shop with chemical contents.
“Efforts to assess damage and implement preventive measures are ongoing. We appreciate the collaboration of all emergency responders at the scene.
“Caution is advised when handling combustible materials to prevent future incidents,” Adeseye stated.
In January 2024, the Lagos State Fire Service received 251 emergency calls. These fire incidents have frequently occurred up until April 2024, showing no signs of abatement.
Adeseye attributed the rise primarily to negligence and delayed reporting in a press release issued in February 2024. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Director shared that the Lagos State Government is intensifying its fire safety awareness campaign across all local government areas.