The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has contained three fire incidents in Lagos Island, Ojodu Berger and Mushin areas of the state, while averting a possible explosion after a petrol tanker conveying 45,000 litres of petrol fell at Ballet Bus Stop, inward Isolo.
The agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed this in separate statements on Thursday, adding that no deaths were recorded in the incidents.
Oke-Osanyintolu said the fire at the Folashade Tinubu Ojo Ebute-Ero Market, Gorodom, broke out at about 1.38 pm in a section of a storey building used as storage shops.
He noted that preliminary investigation showed that the fire started on the ground floor before spreading to the upper floor, prompting the deployment of the agency’s Sharks Team from its Lekki base.
The PS added that the response team worked with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Fire Service, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Central Business District crew, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the police to contain the inferno.
He stated, “Through collaborative and professional efforts of the Agency’s Response Team, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Central Business District Crew, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Nigeria Police Force, the fire was completely put out and prevented from spreading to adjoining buildings and shops in the densely populated market.”
Oke-Osanyintolu noted that the intervention saved goods and property worth hundreds of millions of naira and prevented a potentially devastating incident in the busy market.
He, however, disclosed that an adult male who fell from the storey building during the fire was rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, adding that dampening-down operations were ongoing to extinguish residual hotspots and secure the area.
In another incident, Oke-Osanyintolu stated that a fire broke out at 3Pots by 217 Lounge, located at 71 Obokun Avenue, off Baale Street, Ojodu Berger.
He noted that the agency’s Tiger Team responded to the incident and preliminary findings indicated that an electrical surge from an air-conditioning unit on the top floor of the two-storey building caused the fire.
According to him, the fire destroyed property on the top floor but was prevented from spreading to the lower floors and neighbouring buildings.
Oke-Osanyintolu added that the fire had been extinguished, recovery operations completed, and no casualties recorded.
The PS also stated that a fire affected a shop at 34 Ladipo Street, Mushin, at about 4.07 pm before spreading to three adjoining shops.
He added that preliminary investigation revealed that the fire started when public electricity supply was restored, adding that the agency’s Alpha Eagle Team from Cappa worked with the LRU Fire Unit, the LSFRS, the LNSC and the police to extinguish the fire.
Oke-Osanyintolu said the coordinated intervention prevented the fire from spreading to other buildings along the busy commercial corridor.
He added that no death or injury was recorded, while dampening-down operations were completed.
Meanwhile, Oke-Osanyintolu stated that a tanker conveying 45,000 litres of petrol fell sideways at Ballet Bus Stop, inward Isolo, at about 4.46 pm, obstructing traffic and causing fuel to spill from one of its compartments.
He noted that the tanker fell while its driver attempted to avoid a collision with an oncoming truck that was trying to overtake it from behind, adding that the incident also involved a Mercedes-Benz 4Matic Jeep with registration number JJJ-478KP.
The PS said the agency immediately shut the road to prevent a possible explosion, activated crowd control measures and deployed safety protocols to contain the situation.
He stated, “In line with global best practice for highly inflammable product incidents, the Agency immediately shut down the road to prevent any possibility of explosion, activated crowd control and deployed its safety protocols.”
Oke-Osanyintolu said the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Federal Fire Service began applying foam to the tanker and the affected area to suppress fumes.
He added that an empty tanker was mobilised to transfer the remaining petrol, while a private tow truck was placed on standby to recover the fallen tanker after the operation.
Oke-Osanyintolu said the scene remained secured as the transfer of the remaining product continued, adding that no casualty was recorded.
Oke-Osanyintolu urged traders and residents to ensure proper electrical connections and avoid overloading circuits, while calling on truck drivers to obey traffic regulations and avoid reckless overtaking.
He also encouraged members of the public to report emergencies through the agency’s toll-free lines, 112 and 767, for prompt intervention.