The diligent efforts of emergency responders, spearheaded by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, have resulted in the successful containment of a fire outbreak in the Idunmota area. At approximately 16:05 hours, the blaze, which originated from poor housekeeping practices within a firecracker storage facility at #49 Docemo Street, was brought under control.

The root cause of the fire has been determined to be negligence, compounded by the presence of combustible materials within the vicinity. The fire quickly spread to neighboring properties, including houses #47 and #51, where various goods such as decorations and lighters were stored. Prompt action by firefighting teams prevented further escalation and facilitated the extinguishing of the flames.

The collaborative efforts of multiple agencies, including the Federal Fire Service, NPA Fire Service, LASEMA, LASAMBUS, Nigeria Police Force, LNSC, CBD Men, and Julius Berger, played a pivotal role in navigating the complexities of the situation. Challenges such as crowd control and the safe evacuation of traders were effectively managed, ensuring minimal disruption and safeguarding lives and property.

Thankfully, there have been no reported casualties as a result of the incident. However, ongoing efforts are focused on dampening down remaining hotspots and assessing the structural integrity of affected buildings

Regrettably, House 49 has collapsed as previously reported.

The collaborative response to this incident exemplifies the resilience and professionalism of the emergency responders in Lagos state. We extend our gratitude to all involved parties for their swift and coordinated efforts .

Margaret Adeseye
Director Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service
20th March 2024

*Fire Incident In Docemo: Intensity Reduced, Buildings Affected*

Lagos, March 20, 2024 - An update on the ongoing fire emergency in Docemo reveals a significant reduction in the intensity of the blaze.

The affected properties are identified as house numbers 47, 49, and 51.

Tragically, house number 49 has collapsed due to the fire's intensity and the close proximity of buildings. Additionally, the fire has spread to house number 53.

Emergency response teams continue to work tirelessly to contain the spread of the fire and protect surrounding properties in spite of combustible materials involved including fire crackers which are triggering at intervals.

We urge residents to remain calm and cooperate with emergency personnel.

Further updates will follow as the situation evolves.

*Margaret Adeseye*
Director, LSFRS

Lagos state fire and rescue Service being appreciated

The Hon Commissioner led Govt officials to the scene of the Fire incident at Dosunmu str,Lagos Island today 20th March 2024. The fire engulfed 3high rise buildings.The Lagos state fire and Rescue Service was fully on Ground to Fight the thick Fire.

naptu2:
The only unusual thing this time is that it occurred during the Rainy Season.

It has almost become a tradition that there should be major fire outbreaks at Oko Baba (on the Mainland) and on Lagos Island sometime between September and January every year. The reason for the fire outbreaks is quite obvious.

Oko Baba is a gigantic illegal sawmill. Dry wood is stored haphazardly over a wide area in Ebute Metta. The wood and sawdust is often burnt there, making it difficult for motorists on Third Mainland Bridge to see (driving down that stretch of the bridge is extremely dangerous because of the smoke). The Government has had plans to relocate the sawmills for a very long time. These plans have often been frustrated by people who spread rumours that the government just wants to steal land. It seems as if there is a major fire outbreak at that place every single dry season. There was another fire outbreak there yesterday.

There have also been fire outbreaks at the various markets on Lagos Island almost every Dry Season since the 1980s. One of the reasons for the fires on Lagos Island is the enormous amount of illegal fireworks that are stored there every Christmas season. The fire in 2012 caused such a huge explosion that some people thought that Boko Haram militants had bombed Lagos. The explosion was so powerful that it knocked down part of the building in which the fireworks were stored. The sale, distribution and use of these fireworks have been illegal since the early 1980s, but people keep using them during the Christmas season and so there is a huge market for them and this market is centred around Lagos Island.

The large number of clothes that are sold on Lagos Island also serve as fuel for these fire outbreaks that occur during the Dry Season. On one occasion someone was trying to refuel an electricity generator that was still on and this caused a fire that burnt through bales of fabric.

naptu2:
Fire, fire, fire everywhere

This is another post in the "The Problem With Nigeria Is Nigerians" series.

Market fires have been very common in Nigeria since I was a kid. As I've previously written, it has become a tradition that there would be fire outbreaks at the Oko Baba Sawmill on Lagos Mainland and at the various markets on Lagos Island during the Dry Season. This has become the norm.

However, in recent times, something absolutely crazy has accompanied these fire outbreaks. There has been this insane claim that the fires were deliberately set so that (1) the government could take over the markets (2) in order to chase Igbos away.

Of course these claims are absolute nonsense. There have been fire outbreaks in markets all over Nigeria and these fire outbreaks have been a regular occurrence for decades. For example, were these fires set because the Lagos State Government wants to take over land or because it wants to drive Igbos away?

Fire Breaks Out in Onitsha Main Market, Shops And Offices Destroyed Photos)
https://www.nairaland.com/7621505/fire-breaks-out-onitsha-main

Goods, property destroyed as fire guts auto parts market in Abia
https://www.thecable.ng/goods-property-destroyed-as-fire-guts-auto-parts-market-in-abia

Fire Outbreak At Monday Market Maiduguri Last Night.
https://www.nairaland.com/7586380/fire-outbreak-monday-market-maiduguri

Another Popular Maiduguri Market On Fire
https://www.nairaland.com/7617070/another-popular-maiduguri-market-fire

Couple burnt to ashes as fire engulfs Ilorin market
https://guardian.ng/news/couple-burnt-to-ashes-as-fire-engulfs-ilorin-market/

Fire Guts Rivers Oil Mill Market
https://www.nairaland.com/7608054/fire-guts-rivers-oil-mill

Abuja: Fire Razes Dei-Dei Furniture Market
https://www.nairaland.com/7602079/abuja-fire-razes-dei-dei-furniture

Apata Market In Ibadan On Fire
https://www.nairaland.com/7482487/apata-market-ibadan-fire

And if you research each one of these markets, going back more than 40 years, you'll discover that it has suffered from regular fire outbreaks.

But that's not even what this post is about.

You see, one of the reasons why problems do not get solved in Nigeria is because Nigerians love sensational lies. The rational thing to do when there is a problem is to properly investigate the actual cause of the problem and then to take action to prevent this problem for occurring again. But what happens when you administer malaria medicine to a typhoid patient?

Instead of sensibly analysing the causes of problems, many Nigerians would rather create some ridiculous and nonsensical conspiracy theory and then they'll start chasing that theory. What this means is that the problem will never be solved, because they are chasing the wrong cause. The typhoid patient will die.

This is why there will continue to be regular fire outbreaks at markets all over Nigeria.

Instead of realising that they need to have fire suppression systems at the markets, instead of realising that they need to have better means of storing flammable goods, instead of realising that they need to make the markets accessible to large fire trucks (no street trading or obstructing market roads with goods or large trucks), instead of having fire alarms, instead of conducting fire safety lectures for traders in the market and instead of having fire hydrants and other such things in the market, people will keep chasing a useless conspiracy theory that government wants to take the land. Do you think that government needs to set fire to the market in order to take over the land if it really wants to??

I'll give you an example.

It became a tradition in Nigeria that high rise building would be burnt down by fire in the 1980s and 1990s. I can tell you about many high rise buildings that were thoroughly burnt at that time. There was NET Building in 1983, Nepa Building in 1982 and 1990, Independence Building in 1993, Lapal House c2001 and so on and so forth.

Yes, there were conspiracy theories about the cause of these fires. People claimed that government officials had stolen money and therefore, they set fire to the buildings in order to hide evidence of the fraud.

However, thankfully, the conspiracy theorists were not in charge of the buildings. The people that are in charge of the buildings are more sensible than the conspiracy theorists. They had investigations into the causes of the fire and how to prevent or minimise them.

These investigations showed that (1) there were no snorkels (aerial platforms) in Nigeria (2) Tall buildings needed to have fire suppression systems (sprinklers) (3) There was a need to have fire hydrants near tall buildings (because water trucks will not have enough water to deal with such large fires), (4) there was a need to have helipads on roofs or fire escapes through which occupants of such buildings could escape, etc.

These measures were put in place (Union Bank actually bought its own snorkel for its headquarters) and now you don't hear of tall buildings burning down the way you used to hear about it in the 1980s and 1990s.

The same could be done for markets, but funny people would create all kinds of conspiracy theories if the government tries to enforce them (Nigerians hate regulations and enforcement of regulations, yet they want a better society. Nigerians are the problem of Nigeria).

bassdow:
f

TheFarmer1:
I have this feeling that there are Nigerians who specifically cash out whenever there is a fire like this. I have this gut feeling that all these fires from Sokoto to Kaduna and down to Lagos are all well planned acts of Arson. Some people actually sit down, plan these things and carry them out for reasons best known to them. If not, how then do you explain back to back fires in big markets across the country? If you look at these fires holistically, you'd understand the point I'm trying to make.