Fire service equipment malfunctions as three-storey building burns in Lagos

A New Year's day fire accident has gutted a three-storey building in the Lawanson area of Surulere Local Government Area in Lagos State.

Vanguard reported that the fire was reportedly triggered by the explosion of electrical appliances shortly after power supply was restored to the building, leaving property worth millions of naira damaged.

As of press time, it is unclear if anyone was trapped in the building when the fire broke out.

Although men of the Federal and State Fire Services were said to have arrived at the building located at Onadeko street, off Anjorin Street, their equipment reportedly failed to work.

The publication quoted an eyewitness identified as Mr Ladi Sarumi, as saying that the fire service operatives arrived at the scene about an hour after the fire broke out.

Sarumi said, “The men of the Federal Fire Service and Lagos State Fire Service arrived about an hour at the scene after the fire incident started but they were unable to out of the fire owing to bad equipment that malfunctioned at the scene of the incident.

He added that “an explosion was heard at the last floor of the building shortly after power supply was restored to the building, while an alternative power supply source, a generator was still on.

“The landlord is currently on holiday, in Ebonyi State, but the wife and domestic staff are at home when the fire broke out.”

Concerned neighbours are reportedly making efforts to put out the fire as calls made to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency were not taken.

As of the time of filing this report, the extent of damage caused by the fire had not been ascertained.