PHOTO ESSAY: Inferno Destroys Ramshackle Buildings in Lagos

An investigation has been launched by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency into a fire that ravaged a cluster of makeshift homes in the Abule Oja area of Yaba, with the agency's Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirming that no lives were lost thanks to a rapid response from emergency teams.

n

The fire broke out at 9/10 Abudu Street, Abule Oja, near UNILAG Road, prompting the deployment of emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Fire Service, and UNILAG Fire Service, among others, who swiftly contained the blaze.

n

The response team, which also included the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, and operatives from LASEMA's Alpha Cobra Base, worked in tandem to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings, despite the highly combustible nature of the affected structures.

n

According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the fire swept through a cluster of residential makeshift structures, with flames spreading rapidly due to the proximity of the buildings and the presence of combustible materials, but the coordinated intervention prevented a worse outcome.

n

The agency noted that the swift action of emergency responders ensured that no lives were lost, with Oke-Osanyintolu stating that the adjoining two-storey building was successfully saved, thanks to the diligence and courage of the emergency personnel.

n

Damping-down operations were conducted to extinguish any remaining hotspots and prevent a fresh outbreak, while the area was secured to ensure public safety, with a comprehensive damage assessment also underway.

n

Relevant government agencies have been mobilised to provide relief materials and humanitarian assistance to affected residents, while the cause of the fire remains unknown, with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service collaborating with other agencies to investigate the incident.

n

Oke-Osanyintolu commended the emergency responders for their prompt intervention and professionalism, and expressed appreciation to residents for their cooperation during the operation, also urging them to observe fire safety measures to prevent similar incidents.

n

Residents were advised to avoid substandard electrical wiring, prevent overloading of sockets, and ensure that homes and businesses are equipped with basic firefighting equipment, such as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, to mitigate the risk of fires.

n

In a related incident, PUNCH Metro reported on July 19 that two firefighters were hospitalised after collapsing while battling a fire that engulfed the top floor of a three-storey residential building in the Ketu-Ikosi area of Lagos State.

n

LASEMA spokesperson, Olawale Afolabi, had disclosed that the fire, which affected one of a pair of twin three-storey residential buildings at No. 11, Ademola Taiwo Street, Ketu-Ikosi, was caused by an electrical surge from a prepaid meter, highlighting the importance of electrical safety.