LAGOS State has recorded at least 417 fire incidents and other emergencies in the first two months of 2015, destroying property worth billions of Naira. Vanguard newspaper gathered that the Lagos State Fire Service has responded to 10 fire disasters within the first eight days of March.
This came barely a week after the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA said that 1,064 persons were displaced by major fire disasters recorded in Lagos. The state had in 2014 recorded over 1,621 fire incidents and 1,537 fire incidents occurred in the state in 2013. A breakdown of the statistics showed that the state recorded 263 fire incidents and others in January. And in February,154 were recorded. March disasters In March, one of the fire disasters occurred at 12b Ereko Street, Lagos Island, where a 3 storey building stacked with textiles materials was razed. On March 2, another serious fire outbreak occurred at Baruwa village, Igboefon, Eti-Osa Local Council where the topmost floor of a two storey building was razed, destroying properties worth several millions of Naira. Four days into the month, fire engulfed the state Magistrate Court, at Igbosere. The fire burned Court 13 on the fourth floor, destroying furniture and other electronic appliances in the court room. Also on the fourth day, a storey building at ADRAO International School located beside Nigerian Television Authority, NTA at Victoria Island was razed. On the fifth day, Ewutuntun Grammar School, in Mafoluku axis of the state was engulfed and furniture were destroyed. On March 8, a local rubber processing company at Gberigbe road, Ikorodu and a shop on the 1st floor of a four storey building at 23 Obun-Eko Street, Lagos Island were razed.
Speaking on the state of fire disasters in the state, the Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe said that the above statistics represent the number of fire incidents and other disasters they responded to. He blamed residents for the increase saying, “larger percentage of the disasters was due to unprofessional handling of domestic equipment especially gas cookers.”
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/lagos-417-fire-incidents-others-in-two-months/
