A devastating fire engulfed a sawmill in Lagos State on Sunday, leaving goods worth millions of Naira feared destroyed.
The incident took place at Awori bus stop, along the Lagos Abeokuta Expressway, in the Abule Egba area of the state, as reported by THE WHISTLER.
Margaret Adeseye, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed the incident, stating that the fire had been successfully contained, preventing it from spreading beyond the sawmill. Despite the extensive damage, there are no reported casualties at this time. Firefighters from the Agege, Abesan, and Alausa Fire Stations are actively working at the scene to dampen the flames.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and investigations are underway to ascertain its origin, Adeseye added.
This unfortunate event follows a recent incident where the 14-storey Mandilas building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, was consumed by fire, impacting 6,700 traders, 450 shops, 30 offices, two hotels, and five restaurants, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The recurring fire outbreaks in Lagos have become a cause for concern. In October of the previous year, the state fire service reported a staggering N1.62 billion in estimated property losses due to fire outbreaks between January 1 and October 29, 2023. During the same period, the agency managed to save about N9.728 billion worth of property, responding to 1,327 fire calls and 154 rescue calls.
As authorities work diligently to address the aftermath of these incidents, questions surrounding fire safety and prevention measures are becoming increasingly urgent in Lagos State.
