Fire Razes 80 Makeshift Houses, Five Industrial Warehouses in Lagos

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

An early morning fire on Friday razed down about 80 makeshift houses on Idowu Bashorun street, Council Bus Stop, Ikotun, Lagos, even as five industrial warehouses were gutted by fire at Isolo area of the state

This is just as a petrol tanker carrying about 33,000 litres of AGO fell from the bridge at Anthony Village, Lagos spilling it’s products into the premises of Corona School located by the foot of the bridge.

Although emergency responders battled from 3am when the fire started till dawn to douse the fire, no fewer than 80 makeshift shops were burnt.

Also, properties and goods worth millions of naira were said to have been lost in the process.

Confirming the incident, Managing Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Razaq Fadipe, advised members of the public to desist from storing petrol in Jerry cans in their houses.

He said this was one of the major causes of recent fire outbreak in Lagos.

In a similar development, another fire outbreak at the Isolo office of Afprint industries, which started at about 2pm gutted five warehouses.

Also, NEMA South-west Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Farinloye, who confirmed the incident said, “The fire outbreak at Afprint involved five warehouses. The fire started around 2pm but it’s been put out now.”

Meanwhile, at the site of the spillage, a combined team of emergency workers drawn from both the Federal and State Fire Services, as well as officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), battled to contain the product to prevent any fire outbreak.

The truck was later towed away by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), even as no casualty was recorded.

Also, Farinloye, who confirmed the incident said a tanker conveying 33,000 litres of AGO fell from the bridge at Anthony Village, crashing into Corona School located by the foot of the bridge.

He said the incident which involved a tanker with registration number BAU 219 XB, carrying 33,000 litres of AGO(DIESEL), was coming from Oshodi, and descending inward Ikorodu road through Anthony link road.

It was also gathered that in the process of trying to negotiate to Ikorodu road, from Anthony Oke, it suddenly slipped off the road and rammed into the school’s perimeter wall, pulling some parts down.

The General Manager LASEMA, Mr . Michael Akindele, who confirmed the accident said the agency received the distress call at about 11:35pm and that it consequently activated its emergency response team.

He said, “Nobody sustained injury and no mortality recorded. Men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Emergency Response Team ( ERT), and Lagos State Fire Service continuously blanketed the fuel to avoid any outbreak of fire.

“LASTMA and police were also on ground for the recovery operation. The driver of the truck is said to be at large”.

PHCN have been contacted and the area has been isolated from electricity to prevent any eventuality.”

Akindele, also warned residents against illegal scooping and to desist from any activity that could led to fire outbreak.