The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) says emergency responders have successfully contained and extinguished a fire outbreak that gutted part of Sabo Market in Ikorodu in the early hours of Monday, preventing the inferno from spreading to other sections of the market. The agency disclosed this in a statement……
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) says emergency responders have successfully contained and extinguished a fire outbreak that gutted part of Sabo Market in Ikorodu in the early hours of Monday, preventing the inferno from spreading to other sections of the market.
The agency disclosed this in a statement issued by its Head of Public Affairs, Afolabi Olawale, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the fire broke out at about 1:10 a.m., prompting the deployment of LASEMA’s Tiger Squad alongside personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to the scene.
The statement partly reads: “The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, in conjunction with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, has successfully contained and extinguished a fire incident that occurred at Sabo Market, Ikorodu at about 01:10 am today.”
LASEMA said firefighters met a row of shops engulfed in flames upon arrival, while preliminary findings indicated that the fire started in one of the shops before spreading to adjoining stores.
The agency added that the immediate cause of the incident was suspected to be an electrical surge, as the outbreak reportedly occurred while electricity supply was on.
“The immediate cause is suspected to be an electrical surge, as the outbreak reportedly occurred while power supply was active,” the statement reads.
It noted that emergency responders immediately commenced firefighting operations, successfully containing the blaze and preventing it from spreading to adjoining properties and other sections of the market.
A post-incident assessment revealed that 17 of the 32 shops located within the affected section of the market were damaged, with provisions, groceries, foodstuffs and other valuable merchandise destroyed by the fire.
Despite the damage, the agency confirmed that no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded during the incident.
It added that the remaining shops within the affected row, as well as neighbouring shops in the market, were largely saved due to the prompt intervention of emergency responders.
LASEMA said recovery operations had been concluded and its response team had returned to base.
The agency commended the efforts of its Tiger Squad and officers of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service for their coordinated response, which prevented a more devastating outcome.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, urged traders, market leaders and residents to pay greater attention to electrical safety to reduce the risk of future fire incidents.
He advised them to ensure proper electrical wiring in shops, avoid overloading electrical appliances and carry out regular inspections of electrical installations, particularly during periods of electricity supply.
Oke-Osanyintolu also called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly report emergencies through the state’s toll-free emergency lines.
He said the Lagos State Government remained committed to protecting lives, property and livelihoods across the state.
