Half year: Fire claims 42 lives, N14.6bn properties in Lagos

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service says 177 persons were rescued alive while 42 victims were recovered dead in fire incidences in the state in six months.

The Fire Service stated that properties worth N87.7 billion were saved while properties worth N14.6 billion were lost to inferno in Lagos State in six months.

The director of the Service, Adeseye Margaret Abimbola, made the disclosure in the agency’s mid-year activity report released by the Deputy Director Public Affairs, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Agboola Ololade.

Adeseye noted that a total of 1,462 emergencies from the month of January to June 2023 were recorded, saying the distress calls included Fire – 924, Rescue – 92, Salvage – 41, Explosion – 3, Building Collapse – 2, and False Calls – 400.

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She further stated that fire incidences increased indiscriminately from the same period compared to the previous year, adding that investigations revealed that carelessness and negligence were the major causes of the disaster.

The Fire Service director noted that there was an increase in unfavorable calls that keep occurring due to the change of strategy in the attendance to distress calls without double-checking for false calls.

According to her, other factors include climate change and the proliferation of domestic gas usage due to the spread in use as an alternative fuel, which also contributed to the increase in fire outbreaks.

Adeseye, however, urged the people of Lagos State to desist from habits that may put unnecessary pressure on the Fire Service operations in the state, assuring that the agency has what it takes to ensure mitigation of fire outbreaks.

She equally enjoined Lagosians to be safety conscious, especially with the advent of gas as the alternative source of fuel which has come to stay.

The Star