How poor storage, building design fuelled Lagos Island inferno – Fire service
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has attributed the prolonged Lagos Island fire to poor storage practices and the design of closely linked buildings at the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street.
The fire broke out around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24, in the 25-storey building and burned into Christmas Day despite the early arrival of firefighters. It began on the fifth floor and quickly spread to at least five adjoining structures, including the old Lagos Central Mosque.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said the distress call was received at 4:41 p.m., while firefighters arrived at the scene 12 minutes later, at 4:53 p.m.
She said initial response teams were deployed from the Ebute Elefun and Dolphin fire stations, with additional support drawn from the Sari Iganmu, Bolade and Isolo fire stations, as well as the Alausa headquarters.
Adeseye explained that efforts to contain the blaze were slowed by poor storage arrangements and the presence of highly combustible materials within the building. She noted that the affected floors were largely used as warehouses and sales outlets for clothing materials, alongside offices and a few retail shops.
She added that the conjoined design of the surrounding buildings allowed the fire to spread rapidly from one structure to another, while crowd control problems and limited access further hampered firefighting operations.
The fire service confirmed that the inferno has now been brought under control, with firefighters engaged in damping-down operations to extinguish remaining pockets of fire. Five adjoining buildings were affected, with two partially damaged and three severely impacted.
It also disclosed that 10 people, mostly men, were rescued alive with varying degrees of injuries and are in stable condition, reassuring residents of the service’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
