The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has advised operators of commercial facilities to review and strictly adhere to fire safety measures and proper storage protocols to prevent fire incidents.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, gave the advice on Thursday in Lagos.
The advice followed a fire incident that occurred in the Ajegunle Boundary area of Lagos in the early hours of Thursday.
In a statement made available to reporters, Oke-Osanyintolu said the fire razed a one-storey shopping complex housing clothes dealers on Amore Street, Ajegunle Boundary.
He said distress alerts were received at about 2:40 a.m. through the 767/112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting LASEMA to activate the state’s Emergency Response Plan from its Cappa Base in Oshodi.
“Upon arrival of the LASEMA response team at about 3:22 a.m., it was discovered that a one-storey shopping complex accommodating clothes dealers was engulfed by fire, with active flames indicating intense combustion within the complex and adjoining shops,” he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu said the large volume of combustible materials stored in the shops contributed to the rapid spread and intensity of the fire.
He disclosed that preliminary investigations indicated the fire was caused by a power surge following the restoration of public electricity supply.
“Fortunately, no lives were lost and no casualties were recorded during the incident,” he said.
The permanent secretary said the shopping complex and adjoining shops were completely razed, with goods and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in the inferno.
He added that a physical assessment of the structure showed partial compromise, necessitating an immediate structural integrity evaluation.
“The affected area was promptly cordoned off, while safety and precautionary measures were implemented to protect adjoining buildings and the immediate environment.
“Prompt intervention by LASEMA, in collaboration with other responders, prevented the fire from spreading to neighboring structures,” he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu said firefighting operations successfully subdued and contained the fire, while damping-down operations were ongoing to eliminate residual heat and prevent re-ignition.
He again urged operators of commercial facilities to strictly comply with fire safety guidelines and proper storage practices to avert similar incidents.
Agencies that responded to the incident included the LASEMA Response Team from Cappa Base, the LASEMA Fire Unit, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Nigeria Police Force.
